PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF GMELINA ARBOREA SEEDS

Abstract

The study determined the proximate composition of Gmelina arborea seeds. The seeds were manually extracted from the fruits, ensuring that no pulp or external residues remained. The extracted seeds were spread out on a clean surface under shade conditions for air-drying, reducing moisture content while preventing nutrient degradation from direct sunlight. After air-drying for 7–10 days, the seeds were oven-dried at 60°C for 48 hours to achieve consistent low moisture levels suitable for proximate analysis. The dried seeds were ground into a fine powder using a laboratory-grade grinder to ensure uniformity. The resulting seed powder was sieved through a 1mm mesh to remove coarse particles, providing a homogeneous sample for analysis. The proximate composition of Gmelina arborea seeds was determined using standardized laboratory protocols as outline by AOAC (2010).` `The result showed that ash (%) 3.94, moisture (%) 4.65, crude protein (%) 31.15, calorific value (metabolizable energy) 7192.01, fixed carbon (%) 4.11 and volatile matter 87.39. The crude protein and energy levels make it compare favorably with conventional ingredients.