Abstract:
Indigenous fruits, which are usually underutilized, play an important role in food and nutrition security
especially in developing countries. Vitex payos fruit (chocolate berry) is one such example which is currently gaining
popularity in arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya. Fruits of V. payos were collected from three wards in each of the
two Counties (Kitui and Tharaka-Nithi). A composite sample from each County was obtained by mixing the three
ward samples in a ratio of 1:1:1. Standard analytical methods were used in the determination of the physicochemical
composition of the fruit samples. Apart from crude fat and protein, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in
other fruit sample parameters between the two Counties. Potassium and calcium contents were significantly higher
(P˂0.05) in Kitui compared to Tharaka-Nithi County samples, while phosphorous was significantly lower (P˂0.05)
in the latter than in the former County samples. Niacin, pyridoxine and ascorbic acid were significantly higher
(P˂0.05) in Kitui than in Tharaka-Nithi County samples while thiamin was not detected in both County samples. All
phytochemicals and anti-nutrients determined were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Kitui than in Tharaka-Nithi
County samples. The results from this study indicate that V. payos is a good source of nutrients whose concentration
may be region-dependent. Nutrient concentration of V. payos is comparable to most fruits. Its potassium, dietary
fiber and total flavonoid content are particularly higher than in most of the common fruits.
