Nutritional and oil characterization of Erythrina stricta Roxb. seeds: a potential resource for functional foods

Erythrina stricta Roxb., an underutilized legume species native to the Indian subcontinent, is traditionally employed in various medicinal applications. This study systematically examines the nutritional quality, encompassing proximate and mineral composition of E. stricta seeds, with a focus on characterizing the seed oil. The seeds exhibit commendable proximate composition, with 26.81% protein and 18.71% fibre. Noteworthy mineral elements include 5.0 mg/g DW of calcium and 787.0, 32.7, 36.8 and 497.0 mu g/g of iron, copper, boron and zinc, respectively. The seeds yield 13.43% oil, with oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids as prominent fatty acids, constituting 48.82%, 20.63%, 20.27% and 6.47%, respectively. Antinutrients such as oxalate and phytate are present in concentrations of 26.85 and 16.04 mg/g FW, respectively. In conclusion, this study underscores E. stricta seeds as a robust source of both nutrients and oil, warranting further exploration and consideration for potential applications.