D. edulis has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.
Fruit The main use of
D. edulis is its
fruit, which can be eaten either raw, cooked in salt water or roasted. Cooked flesh of the fruit has a texture similar to
butter and is often eaten on bread. The pulp contains 48% oil and a plantation can produce 7-8
tons of oil per
hectare. The fat content of this fruit is much higher compared to fruits such as apple, guava, and pawpaw. It is also rich in
minerals (including potassium, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium) and
beta-carotene. The
kernel can be used as fodder for
sheep or
goats. The
flowers are useful in
apiculture.
Timber The
wood of
D. edulis is elastic, greyish-white to pinkish. The wood has general use for tool handles, and occasionally for
mortars, and is suitable for
carpentry.
Seed The seed of
Dacryodes edulis is rich in different proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, crude fibres, appreciable amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is also rich in essential amino acids such as
Lysine, Phenylalanine, Leucine,
Isoleucine. It contain a considerable amount of fatty acids such as palmitic acids, oleic acids, and linoleic acids. Physicochemical analysis suggested that the seed have valuable functional attributes of industrial interest. The important natural product,
gallic acid, is found in significant quantity in the seed of
Dacryodes edulis. The vasomodulatory properties of the seeds have been reported. ==Medicinal uses==