Abstract
Proximate and mineral analysis, carbohydrate composition, functional properties and anti-nutritional factors of Tamarindus indica (L.) and Ziziphus spina christi seed and fruit were determined using standard methods. Ziziphus spina christi seed was found to be rich in protein (24.07%) than Tamarindus indica pulp (7.64%) and Ziziphus spina christi fruit (8.23%). The crude fat content of all the samples, Tamarindus indica pulp (1.03%), Ziziphus spina christi fruit (1.94%), Ziziphus spina christi seed (1.24%) were low. High carbohydrate values, 56.00%, 58.02% and 35.25% were obtained for Tamarindus indica pulp and Ziziphus spina christi fruit and seed respectively. Meanwhile, the functional properties of Ziziphus spina christi fruit was relatively higher than the seed and Tamarindus indica pulp. Values obtained for dextrose, fructose, maltose and other sugars showed that they all contain an appreciable amount of sugar. The antinutritional factors depicted that they all contained low amount of oxalate, tannic acid, phytin phosphorus except the phytic acid, 5.74, 6.56, and 8.24 (mg/100g for Tamarindus indica pulp and Ziziphus spina christi fruit and seed respectively. The mineral analysis showed that the Ca Mg, and Fe contents of these samples were relatively high with Ziziphus spina christi seed having the highest value of Fe (58.53 mg/100g) compared with Tamarindus indica pulp (27.36 mg/100g) Ziziphus spina christi (39.96 mg/100g). The results generally indicated that T.indica pulp and Ziziphus spina christi fruit and seed were good sources of protein, mineral and energy foods and can be used in food formulation.
Highlights
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L), native to tropical Africa, widely grown in Sudan and adopted in India, is a slowgrowing; long-lived massive tree with strong branches
The results show that the moisture content of Tamarindus indica pulp is similar to that of Ziziphus spina christi seed, but values are lower than 42.23 reported for Nauclea latifiolia fruit by Amoo and Lajide (1999)
Values obtained for crude fat in all the samples show that they have low fat content compared with 15.60 reported by Adeyeye and Agesin (1999) for Chrysophyllum albidum indicating that these fruits cannot be used as fat food formulation
Summary
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L), native to tropical Africa, widely grown in Sudan and adopted in India, is a slowgrowing; long-lived massive tree with strong branches. The fruits are flattish, beanlike and are borne in great abundance along the new branches. The acidulous pulp turns brown or reddish brown (Morton, 1987) while Ziziphus spina christi commonly called Jujube, known as Kurna in Northern part of Nigeria and Dom/Christ thorn in English is a shrub, sometimes a tall tree reaching a height of 20 m, native to a vast area of Africa The fruits which taste like a mixture of dates and apples can be eaten raw or dried for later use (NAS, 1980). Research has shown that lesser work has been carried out on functional properties and the chemical composition of the fruits. This study aims at determining and comparing the nutritional value and other food benefits from these fruits which may be used as a supplement for protein and other mineral nutrient for the body
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