CT and WCT contain a higher amount of MUFA and PUFA than that of CW, CWK,
WCW, and WCWK. Oils extracted from copra and wet coconut testa are poor in
MCFA content than other parts. The composition of oils extracted from the whole
coconut kernel is in accordance with the results obtained by Bhatnagar et al. (2009).
7.3.2.4 Crude Fiber
The crude fiber content of copra is lesser than the wet kernel which is evident from
Table 7.3. It was in the range of 6.6–11.6% for copra, while that of the wet kernel, it
was in the range of 11.7–17.2. Coconut testa is richer in crude fiber than dried kernel
and whole wet coconut which is the reason behind high fiber values of CT and WCT
which is 11.6% and 17.2%, respectively. A healthy coconut kernel should have a
good amount of crude fiber which is around 13.13% (Rao et al. 1998).
7.3.2.5 Proteins
Coconut kernel contains 5–10% protein. It is a mixture of essential, non-essential,
and conditionally essential amino acids. The amino acid composition of fresh
coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.5. According to USDA, the amino acids
which cannot be synthesized are called essential amino acids, and therefore they
should be supplemented in the human diet. Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine are the examples of
essential amino acids. Those amino acids which can be synthesized from their
precursors, usually essential amino acids, are called non-essential amino acids.
Alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, and serine are examples of
non-essential amino acids. Those amino acids that can be synthesized under regular
conditions, in the human body when the body feels relaxed are called the conditional
Table 7.5 Amino acid composition of fresh coconut kernel
Vitamin
Content (g/100 g fresh kernel) Vitamin
Content (g/100 g fresh kernel)
Essential amino acids
Non-essential amino acids
Tryptophan
0.039
Alanine
0.170
Threonine
0.121
Aspartic acid 0.325
Isoleucine
0.131
Glutamic acid 0.761
Leucine
0.247
Serine
0.172
Lysine
0.147
Conditional essential amino acids
Methionine
0.062
Arginine
0.546
Phenylalanine 0.169
Cystine
0.066
Valine
0.202
Glycine
0.158
Histidine
0.077
Proline
0.138
Tyrosine
0.103
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database (2019)
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WCW, and WCWK. Oils extracted from copra and wet coconut testa are poor in
MCFA content than other parts. The composition of oils extracted from the whole
coconut kernel is in accordance with the results obtained by Bhatnagar et al. (2009).
7.3.2.4 Crude Fiber
The crude fiber content of copra is lesser than the wet kernel which is evident from
Table 7.3. It was in the range of 6.6–11.6% for copra, while that of the wet kernel, it
was in the range of 11.7–17.2. Coconut testa is richer in crude fiber than dried kernel
and whole wet coconut which is the reason behind high fiber values of CT and WCT
which is 11.6% and 17.2%, respectively. A healthy coconut kernel should have a
good amount of crude fiber which is around 13.13% (Rao et al. 1998).
7.3.2.5 Proteins
Coconut kernel contains 5–10% protein. It is a mixture of essential, non-essential,
and conditionally essential amino acids. The amino acid composition of fresh
coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.5. According to USDA, the amino acids
which cannot be synthesized are called essential amino acids, and therefore they
should be supplemented in the human diet. Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine are the examples of
essential amino acids. Those amino acids which can be synthesized from their
precursors, usually essential amino acids, are called non-essential amino acids.
Alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, and serine are examples of
non-essential amino acids. Those amino acids that can be synthesized under regular
conditions, in the human body when the body feels relaxed are called the conditional
Table 7.5 Amino acid composition of fresh coconut kernel
Vitamin
Content (g/100 g fresh kernel) Vitamin
Content (g/100 g fresh kernel)
Essential amino acids
Non-essential amino acids
Tryptophan
0.039
Alanine
0.170
Threonine
0.121
Aspartic acid 0.325
Isoleucine
0.131
Glutamic acid 0.761
Leucine
0.247
Serine
0.172
Lysine
0.147
Conditional essential amino acids
Methionine
0.062
Arginine
0.546
Phenylalanine 0.169
Cystine
0.066
Valine
0.202
Glycine
0.158
Histidine
0.077
Proline
0.138
Tyrosine
0.103
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database (2019)
170
P. T. Parmar et al.