Nutritional composition of Canarium pimela L. kernels

The kernels of Canarium pimela L., obtained from Guangdong Province, PR China, were analysed for their proximate composition, fatty acid composition, amino acid profile and mineral contents. The kernels were abundant in fats (59.7%) and proteins (23.9%). The acid, iodine, and saponification values of the kernel oil were 0.33, 92.4 and 191, respectively. Oleic acid (43.0%) and linoleic acid (26.5%) constituted the main unsaturated fatty acids of the kernel oil, while palmitic acid (24.8%) was the major saturated fatty acid. The kernel proteins were rich in glutamic acid, arginine and aspartic acid (21.0%, 12.5%, and 6.80%, respectively), but not the limiting amino acid lysine (2.37%). The mineral elements were also involved in this study. The results indicated that C. pimela L. kernels may be a potential source of oil or protein for the human diet.