Physical and chemical properties of Cassia sieberiana seeds

In order to upgrade the local method of processing the seed it is necessary to collate basic data on physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the seed and pod as evaluated using standard methods. The length, breadth and thickness of the pods were 12.29 mm, 8.28 mm and 4.44 mm respectively while that of seed were 4.36 mm, 3.46 mm and 1.37 mm respectively. Seed weight, bulk density, true density, porosity and sphericity were found to be 0.02 g, 0.86 g/cm3, 1.30 g/ cm3, 0.33 and 78.55%. Seed was found to be moderately high in crude protein (23.72%) and crude fibre (10.75%) and also in potassium (252.33 mg/L) and magnesium (52.68 mg/L) and contained tannin, alkaloids, phenol, oxalate, cardiac glycosides and flavonoids while saponnin was not detected. Data on chemical properties of seed are essential in determining nutritional importance of seed.