Delonix regia Seed Germ as an Underutilized Biomass Resource: Nutritional Value, Safety, and Potential for Sustainable Protein Supply for Food Systems

Global challenges in food security and sustainable biomass management highlight the need to diversify resource streams that can supply accessible, safe, and environmentally responsible protein. Delonix regia (flamboyant) seed germ (FG) represents an abundant but largely underutilized biomass resource in tropical and subtropical regions, where its seeds are routinely discarded as green waste. This study assesses the resource potential of FG by evaluating its nutritional composition, safety profile, and suitability for integration into sustainable protein provision strategies. The FG fraction was recovered from locally available seed residues and analyzed to determine their proximate composition, essential amino acid profile, and antinutrient content, providing insights into the qualitative attributes of this emerging resource. Safety was examined through in vivo acute toxicity assays and detailed histopathological evaluation of hepatic and renal tissues of CD1/ICR strain female mice, which revealed no morphological indicators of toxicity, inflammation, or cellular damage. The results indicate that FG contains a high protein concentration (78.35%) with a favorable essential amino acid pattern, supporting its potential as a renewable and locally accessible plant-based protein source. Beyond its nutritional value, the valorization of FG contributes to resource efficiency, waste-to-value pathways, and circular economy approaches by transforming an abundant municipal biomass residue into a functional component for sustainable food systems. Overall, the study underscores the feasibility of integrating FG into resource diversification strategies, enhancing protein availability while reducing environmental burdens associated with biomass disposal.