CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF CERATOTHECA SESAMOIDES ENDL, VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DEL, CORCHORUS OLITORIOUS, CORCHORUS TRIDENS, MOMORDICA CHARANTIA AND SENNA OCCIDENTALIS LIN
CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF CERATOTHECA SESAMOIDES ENDL, VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DEL, CORCHORUS OLITORIOUS, CORCHORUS TRIDENS, MOMORDICA CHARANTIA AND SENNA OCCIDENTALIS LIN
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Date
2014-08
Authors
SANI, Umar Gwarzo
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Abstract
Vegetables viz. Corchorus olitorious Linn, Corchorus tridens Linn, Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl, Vernonia amygdalina Del, Mormodica charantia Linn and Senna occidentalis Linn were analyzed for their nutrient, anti-nutrient, vitamin, major, minor, trace and ultra-trace metal contents. Standard analytical methods approved by the (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) were used for the nutrient analysis. Spectrophotometric methods were used for the determination of vitamins A and B in the samples while iodine method was used for the determination of vitamin C respectively. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used for the determination of major, minor, trace and ultra-trace elements contents. The levels of various anti-nutrients in the leaves were determined by appropriate methods. Results of the nutrient composition analyses showed that moisture content ranged 46.90 – 75.53%; ash (2.48 – 11.95%); crude protein (3.19 – 19.36%); crude lipid (3.33 – 6.67%); carbohydrate (5.69 – 10.38%) and calorific value of (93.71 – 163.90Kcal/100g). These values conform to normal values found in other exotic vegetables. Results of vitamins analyses revealed that vitamin A has the highest concentration in Vernonia amygdalina Del (379.46mg/100g); Corchorus tridens Linn (345.84mg/100g); Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl and least in Mormodica charantia Linn (0.06mg/100g). Also, vitamin C amounts in the analyzed plants ranged 17.63 – 255.61mg/100g which lies within amounts found in some of the highly utilized leafy vegetables. For the B vitamins, only B1 was found in relatively high amounts in Corchorus olitorious Linn (154.125mg/100g) and Vernonia amygdalina Del (170.30mg/100g) while the rest (B2 and B3) determined in this work were in small amounts (0.08 – 1.98mg/100g and 0.50 – 7.916mg/100g) respectively. In addition to that, results of the analyses for anti-nutrients showed that cyanide content are low and less than the 10mg/kg Codex standard
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for cyanide in dried cassava. Likewise, the amounts of phytates, oxalates and tannins are low. Moreover, results for the metal analyses in dry weight basis of the plant samples indicates different pattern of concentrations in the various plants and their parts. Out of the twenty nine elements determined; K, Ca, Na, Fe, Al were found in higher concentrations in the range of 10040.0 – 67270.0, 2802.0 – 26950.0, 36.0 – 3520.0, 145.0 – 22215.0, and 52.0 – 2262.0ppm while Rb, Mn, and Zn at lower amounts in the range of 3.9 – 41.0, 3.19 – 326.78, 14.0 – 166.0ppm and the rest either at BDL levels or in traces. Student‟s t-test statistical analysis (p<0.05) on the various parameters indicated varied relationships. The results revealed that these plants contain nutrients, vitamins, and mineral elements and low levels of toxicants. Therefore the plants should be included in diets and will enable consumers, health professionals and regulatory bodies to document and make reference to the data obtained in this work.
Description
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA AUGUST, 2014
Keywords
CHEMICAL ANALYSES,, CERATOTHECA,, SESAMOIDES ENDL,,, VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DEL, CORCHORUS OLITORIOUS,,, CORCHORUS TRIDENS,, MOMORDICA CHARANTIA,, SENNA,, OCCIDENTALIS LINN.