Nutritional Value of Baobab Leaves (Adansonia digitata L.) from North- and West-Kordofan in Sudan: In-Vitro Minerals Bioavailability and Protein Quality

Baobab leaves are rich in essential minerals and antioxidants.They are high in antinutritional molecules like phytic and tannic acids that hinder mineral absorption.Information on protein quality of baobab leaves, which is essential for the utilization of minerals in baobab leaves is scanty.In order to narrow the gap in knowledge, mineral absorption was assessed using the in-vitro bioavailability procedures.The protein quality was determined by the method of estimating indispensable amino acid score (IAAS) and refined to give digestible protein corrected amino acid score (DPCIAAS).The mean in-vitro bioavailability of calcium, magnesium and iron are found to be 31.5%,59%, 7.5%, respectively.The in-vitro bioavailability of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu regressed positively (r 2 =0.71) and significantly (p<0.05) on the levels exposed to in-vitro digestion.There was no interaction (p>0.05) between Ca and Mg.The average crude protein content of baobab leaves was 14.73%; there was no marked (p>0.05)difference between the samples from N-and W-Kordofan.Except for cysteine, methionine, valine and tryptophan the indispensable amino acids profile for the other amino acids were significantly (p<0.05)higher for samples from North-Kordofan than those from West-Kordofan.The IAAS for leucine, cysteine and methionine (0.53, 0.51, 0.5, respectively) of samples from both districts was low.A mixed diet formulated based on cereals and complemented with baobab leaves and legumes could satisfy the daily requirement for indispensable amino acids and optimize mineral absorption.