The Chemical Composition of Selected Indigenous Fruits of Botswana

In the rural areas of most African countries, many people may not have access to exotic fruits and may be eating mainly indigenous fruits. Very little information is documented on the composition of these fruits. This study was undertaken to provide this information. The edible portions of four indigenous fruits (Adansonia digitata, Sclerocarya birrea, Strychnos spinosa and Vangueria infausta) were analysed for proximate composition, minerals, and selected properties using Association of Official Analytical Chemists(AOAC) methods. The values (%) obtained were: dry matter 11.6 (S. birrea) – 86.0 (A. digitata), ash 3.9 (V. infausta)- 4.9 (S. birrea), crude protein 1.3 (A. digitata)- 3.7 (S. birrea), ADF 6.1 (S.spinosa) –39.5 (V. infausta), ADL 4.4 (S. spinosa)- 35.5 (V. infausta), NDF 6.2 (S. spinosa)- 39.4 V. infausta), pH 3.06 (A. digitata) – 3.98 ( S. birrea ), acidity 0.77 (S. spinosa) – 7.85 (A. digitata). The vitamin C content in mg/100g fresh sample were: 67.7 (V. infausta)- 141.3 (A. digitata). For the minerals the values (mg/100 g) were: Ca 56 (S. spinosa) – 128 (A. digitata), Mg 49 (S. spinosa) – 158 (S. birrea), P 50 (A. digitata)- 128 (V. infausta), K 1370 (S.spinosa) – 2183 (S. birrea), Na 13.0 (S. birrea)-21.7 (S. spinosa), Fe 0.07 (S. birrea) –0.11 (S. spinosa) and Zn 0.02 (V. infausta) – 0.22 (S. spinosa). The fruits appear to be good sources of vitamin C, and the minerals, K and Mg. They can contribute towards providing nutrient requirements particularly in the rural areas, therefore the consumption should be encouraged.