[Use of chigo seed (Campsiandra comosa, Benth) in human nutrition. I. Antecedents, nutritional potential, and characteristics of the plant and seed].

A review of the information in the literature in regard to the utilization of the seed of the "chigo" (Campsiandra comosa, Benth) as human food in Venezuela, is presented. The seed of the "chigo" is used as food by inhabitants in areas of the Orinoco basin. Several types of products are prepared from its flour. The nutritional potential of the seed and some of its characteristics, as well as those of the tree from which it is obtained, are also presented. Based on the carbohydrate and protein content of the seed, and on its amino acid composition, it is considered of interest to proceed with a more detailed study in order to determine its potential for human nutrition and, at the same time, analyze the processing conditions of the seed so as to increase its yield and quality as a food.