Combretum adenogonium, Combretum glutinosum, and Combretum paniculatum. are indigenous oleaginous species of West Africa. The study was designed to assess the nutritional, physicochemical, and phenolic profiles of seeds and seed fats from three native oleaginous Combretum Loefl. species in West Africa. The AOAC and AOCS methods were used to determine the nutritional composition and physicochemical characteristics of the seeds and seed fats. The seeds of C. paniculatum had the highest fat (42.20%), protein (26.50%), and ash (4.17%) contents. The dominant fatty acids identified in the seed fats of the three species were oleic acid (38.31-8.16%), palmitic acid (27.52-22.48%), myristic acid (23.82-11.04%), and linoleic acid (19.15-8.46%). C. paniculatum seed fat had the highest saponification value (218.19 mg KOH/g), oxidative stability index (3.78h), and phenolic content (15.78 mg EAG/100g). The seed fat of C. paniculatum showed the highest potential use in cosmetics and as a frying oil in the food industry.
Combretum adenogonium; Combretum glutinosum; Combretum paniculatum; seed fat; nutritional composition; physicochemical properties