Proximate and mineral composition of Kadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba) fruit and its use in the development of nutraceutical enriched beverage.

Neolamarckia cadamba, commonly known as
Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees,
which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries,
however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the
present investigation the N. cadamba fruits were analysed
for their proximate and mineral content at different stages
of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation.
Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed
that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has
calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared
from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability
score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar
preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be
150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 �C). The nectar
was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended
for consumption by various age groups. However,
studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on
consumers.