Ziziphus spina-christi
Uses
Sudan (western): cherry-type [sic] fruit used as a delicacy [sic]; (Kordofan, Darfur): bitter-sweet pulp of fruit is dried and milled to produce a fine flour. One method of preparation places the flour in small metal cups which are cooked under steam. This process solidifies the flour in the shape of the container. The dried pulp-flour and water are also mixed with seseame and formed into small balls for immediate or future use. The seed coat is also cracked open and the kernels eaten raw. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruit eaten.
Additional Information
- Vernaculars:
- Sudan: Nabag, Nabak, Cidir, Christ's thorn. Nigeria (Hausa): Kurna
- Misc:
- Chemical composition (after Berry-Koch) (per 100g) (fruit, dried): Protein = 4.8g. Fat = .9g. Calcium = 140mg. Fe = 3.0mg. Vitamin B1 = .04mg. Vitamin B2 = .13mg. Niacin = 3.7mg. Vitamin C = 30mg. Chemical composition (after Abdelmuti): Protein (crude) = 5.6% (dry). Fat = 2.1% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 4.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) (dry) = 4.1%(dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 21.8% (dry). Sugars: Sucrose = 21.8% (dry). D-glucose = 9.6% (dry). D- fructose = 16.0% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 15.1g. Threonine = 2.2g. Serine = 3.9g. Glutamic acid = 17.6g. Proline = 5.3g. Glycine = 3.1g. Alanine = 3.4g. Valine = 3.1g. Cysteine = 0.5g. Methionine = 0.4g. Isoleucine = 2.3g. Leucine = 3.9g. Tyrosine = 1.8g. Phenylalanine = 2.2g. Lysine = 2.3g. Histidine = 0.9g. Arginine = 3.4g. Sulphur 0.04% (dry). Potassium = 0.13% (dry). Magnesium = 0.12% (dry). Calcium = 0.61% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 1.91% (dry). Zinc = 9mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 20mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 13mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 5mg/kg-1 (dry).