Proximate Analysis and Mineral Composition of Jatropha curcas Seeds Obtained from Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State of Nigeria

The chemical evaluation of Jatropha curcas (Barbados nut) seeds was carried out to analyze and characterize the chemical composition of Jatropha curcas seeds for mineral content. Various analytical techniques have been used to breakdown the mineral and fat and protein content. The result of the proximate composition was shown to be moisture (4.00%), ash (6.00%), fat (40.00%), fibre (8.00%), protein (27.65%) and carbohydrate (18.35%). The ascorbic acid content was found to be 5.16%. The result of the elemental composition of Jatropha curcas seeds shows the presence of Na (54.03 ppm), Al (15.68 ppm), Mg (166.23 ppm), P (5.08 ppm), Ca (1.81 ppm), K (79.89 ppm), Fe (112.03 ppm), Pb (0.10 ppm), Zn (63.23 ppm) and Cd (0.04 ppm). This study revealed that Jatropha curcas seeds have low moisture, high fat and protein content. This suggests that J. curcas can be good source of minerals, if it is detoxified.