essential amino acids, e.g., arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, proline, and
tyrosine.
7.3.2.6 Vitamins
Matured fruit kernel is a source of both water and oil-soluble vitamins which are
presented in Table 7.6. Among water-soluble vitamins present in matured coconut
kernel, ascorbic acid is the major one which is present in highest proportion (3.3 mg/
100 g fresh kernel) followed by niacin (0.540), pantothenic acid (0.300), thiamine
(0.066), pyridoxine (0.054), folate (0.026), and riboflavin (0.020). There are only
two oil-soluble vitamins present in coconut oil extracted from matured coconut
kernel, i.e., α-tocopherol (0.24 mg/100 g fresh kernel) and phylloquinone
(0.20 μg/100 g fresh kernel).
7.3.2.7 Minerals
The mineral composition of copra and coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.7.
Coconut kernel is a rich source of potassium followed by sodium, calcium, iron, and
zinc. CW, CWK, CT, WCW, WCWK, and WCT have 120.3, 124.1, 120.3, 122.1,
123.8, and 107.8 mg of potassium per 100 g, respectively. Sodium, calcium, iron,
and zinc are in the range of 15.5–29.8, 14.0–18.1, 1.5–7.9, and 1.6–3.0 mg/100 g.
Similar observations were reported by Solangi et al. (2011).
Table 7.6 Vitamin content of matured coconut kernel
Vitamin
Unit
Content (Per 100 g fresh kernel)
Water-soluble vitamins
Thiamin (B 1 )
mg
0.066
Riboflavin (B 2 )
mg
0.020
Niacin (B 3 )
mg
0.540
Pantothenic acid (B 5 )
mg
0.300
Pyridoxine (B 6 )
mg
0.054
Folate
mg
0.026
Ascorbic acid (C)
mg
3.3
Oil-soluble vitamins
α-Tocopherol (E)
mg
0.24
Phylloquinone (K)
μg
0.20
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database (2019)
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
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