Potential use of Malaysian rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed as food, feed and biofuel

Rubber seed as a waste product from rubber plantations contains nutritive values that can be harnessed as food for human, feed for animals or biofuel for energy. Proximate analysis showed moisture content of 3.99%, protein content of 17.41 g/100g, fat content of 68.53 ± 0.04 g/100g and ash content of 3.08 ± 0.01 g/100g. Amino acid in rubber seed is high in Glutamic acid (16.13%) and low in Cysteine (0.78%). Despite its potential as a source of protein, fresh rubber seeds contain a toxic factor, cyanogenetic glucoside (186 mg/kg). FAME analysis indicated that rubber seed oil is high in oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid. The fuel potential of rubber seed (585.41 kJ/kg) is in reasonable agreement with ASTM.