IRVINGIA GABONENSIS (AFRICAN MANGO)
Irvingia gabonensis (locally known as 'Ogbono') is a tree, native to West Africa. The fruit is similar to a mango and is used for food. The seeds can also be used to make medicine. Irvingia is a genus of African and South Asia trees in the family Irvingiaceae, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, or bush mango. They bear edible mango-like fruits, and are especially valued for their fat- and protein-rich nuts found in the northern tip of Angola, including Congo, DR Congo, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and south-western Uganda.
TRADE NAME
Dika Nut
USES AND PRODUCTS
Irvingia gabonensis has a wide variety of uses around the world notably valued pharmaceutically because of its help in weight loss.
Some research suggests that seeds affect fat cells, which might reduce fat cell growth and increase the breakdown of fats.There is interest in using supplements containing Irvingia gabonensis for the following;
• Weight Loss
• Lowering Cholesterol Levels
• Improving Control of Diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia Treatments
• Hypercholesterolemia Treatments
• Obesity Treatments
IGOB131, a novel seed extract of Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans.
Traditional medicine practitioners are known to use the seeds also as a fertility agent.
Other notable uses of Irvingia Gabonensis include cosmetics. The oil extract from the seed can be processed to soap. Humans can eat the fruits fresh or processed into jelly, jam, juice and sometimes even wine.The pulp has also been used to prepare black dye for cloth coloration. Compared to the seed the fruit is only a tiny resource.
NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS
Nutritive value of the kernels per 100 g edible portion, which corresponds to about 2918 kJ of energy.
Fat 67 g
Carbohydrate 15 g
Protein 8.5 g
Water 4 g
Calcium 120 mg
Iron 2.4 mg
Nutritive value per 100g edible portion of fruit pulp, which corresponds to 255 kJ of energy: energy:
Water 81 g
Carbohydrate 15.7 g
Protein 0.9 g
Fat 0.2 g
Phosphorus 40 mg
calcium 20 mg
vitamin C 7 mg
Iron 2mg
GLOBAL DEMAND AND SUPPLY
Thousands of tons of seeds are traded each year. This happens mostly within Africa, but exports have commenced to the USA, EU and China.
Make millions of naira from exporting this commodity from Nigeria.
