Carica papaya Linn and Balanites eagyptiaca Del. fruits, commonly known as papaya and balanites, are widely used as food, while the seeds are mostly discarded despite their medicinal properties. This study highlights the nutritional value of papaya and balanites seeds, as medicinal herbal teas. The analysis of the physicochemical properties and the proximate composition was performed, based on standard methods. Atomic absorption method was used for minerals determination, High Performance Liquid Chromatography method for the amino acids profile determination and Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer for fatty acids analysis. The results showed a low moisture content of papaya compared to balanites. The pH ranged from 5.85 to 6.11 for balanites and from 5.02 to 5.86 for papaya seeds, associated with an acidity ranged from 0.47 to 1.52 for papaya and from 0.72 to 0.76 for balanites seeds. The papaya and balanites seeds both presented high contents of lipids (30.36 to 46.23 g/10g), proteins (34.93 to 35.62 g/10g) and essential minerals content (mg/100g), such as potassium (35-68 and 40-95), calcium (366-439 and 238-261), and magnesium (131-312 and 104-260). Except of Thr, all targeted amino acids were detected, with a higher content of essential amino acids in the papaya seeds. Twenty-five (25) fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid, an omega 3, were quantified and, an appreciable diversity and values of fatty acids were observed. The infusion and decoction processes did not impact the nutritional value. These appreciable nutritional values of papaya and balanites seeds constitute an additional value to their primary use as medicinal herb teas. They could contribute to increase a speedy recover during medical cares.

papaya; balanites, seeds; nutritional values; herbal tea