Properties of (Parinari Curatellifolia) (Hacha or Chakata) Fruit from Different Parts of Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

In most African countries, people in rural areas collect edible wild fruits that include (Parinari curatellifolia) for direct consumption or processing into food products especially during periods of food shortage. Parinari curatellifolia is a miombo woodland tree that bears green to grey oval shaped fruit that turns yellowish to brown when ripe. The purpose of the study was to determine the properties of Parinari curatellifolia fruit from Amby, Waterfalls and Acadia in Harare. The parameters evaluated include locations of fruit collection, diameter and mass, proportion of pulp, skin and stone in the fruit, moisture, mineral ash and minerals namely magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and phosphorous. Latitude and longitude positions of the trees locations were approximately E 30^O and S 17^O, respectively. The heights of the sites above sea level ranged from 1477 to 1528m. Diameters and masses of fruit from the three sites were significantly different (p<0.05). Moisture content of the fruit ranged from 66 to 74%. The mean pulp content was 56±5% for individual fruit units and 50±1% for bulk samples from the sampling sites. Fruit from Acadia had the highest pulp content of 60±4%. The proportion of skins and seed stones in the fruit ranged from 8 to 12.5% and 26 to 36%, respectively. Similarly as for diameters and masses, the skin, pulp and stone content of fruits from the three sites were significantly different (P< 0.05). Fruit from Amby had the highest mineral ash, potassium and calcium contents, which were 4.0±0.1, 1.5±0.1 and 0.5±0.1%, respectively. The highest levels of copper and iron were obtained in Acadia and were 0.5±0.1 and 0.8±0.2, respectively. There were no significant differences for mineral ash, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn and Cu content of pulp for fruits from the three sites (P>0.05). The pulp level that was more than 50% of the fruit makes the fruit a potential raw material for food processing. The minerals in the fruit provide a source of nutrients for consumers of prepared food.

Key words: Parinari curatellifolia, fruit, pulp, food