Abstract
Studies were carried out to comparatively assess the proximate and mineral composition of Solanum aethiopicum L. and Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria respectively, following standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. The mineral elements (Na, K, Zn and Ca) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer after wet digestion of the samples while the proximate parameters (ash content, moisture content, crude fibre content, crude protein content, crude fat content and carbohydrate content) were determined in accordance with standard analytical procedures. The mean range of the moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit samples grown in the North Central and South Eastern regions of Nigeria were 72.49 - 88.23, 2.15 - 3.67, 1.31 - 1.85, 0.43 - 0.76, 0.51 - 0.84 and 3.18% - 5.72% respectively. Additionally, the moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria, had mean range of values of 93.60 - 98.76, 0.53 - 0.77, 2.14 - 2.84, 0.29 - 0.46, 0.90 - 1.14 and 3.88% - 4.66% respectively. The range of mean values of Na, K, Zn and Ca in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit samples from the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria were 0.36 - 0.57, 1.92 - 2.80, 0.84 - 1.01 and 0.43 - 0.61 μg/g respectively. Also, Na, K, Zn and Ca had mean range of values of 1.36 - 4.08, 10.16 - 13.09, 0.45 - 0.66 and 5.85 - 9.3 μg/g respectively in the C. sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions in Nigeria. The levels of the determined proximate of parameters and mineral elements in the studied fruit samples from the investigated regions of Nigeria were statistically significant. This therefore indicates that the geographical locations where these fruit samples grew could have significantly impacted on their nutrient content levels. The levels of the determined proximate parameters from the selected regions of Nigeria shows that consumption of the fruit samples (S aethiopicum L. and C. sativus L.) especially regularly, would help supply the essential nutrients and minerals required for a healthy living.
Highlights
Plants are nature’s gift to mankind in terms of providing us with food, oxygen, as well as shelter [1]
The moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria, had mean range of values of 93.60 - 98.76, 0.53 - 0.77, 2.14 - 2.84, 0.29 - 0.46, 0.90 - 1.14 and 3.88% - 4.66% respectively
The fruit samples of Cucumis sativus L. and Solanum aethiopicum L. were purchased in major fruit market outlets in Enugu and Ebonyi states respectively in South Eastern region of Nigeria while for the North Central region, the fruit samples were purchased at market outlets in Benue and Plateau states respectively
Summary
Plants are nature’s gift to mankind in terms of providing us with food, oxygen, as well as shelter [1]. Solanum species (egg plants) belong to the family of solanacaea with over 1000 species worldwide and represented in Nigeria by about 25 species including those domesticated and the wild ones, with their leaves, fruits of both used as vegetables or in traditional medicine [9]. These minerals are involved in functions such as maintenance of heart rhythm, muscle contractility, formation of bones and teeth acid-base, balance regulation of cellular metabolism and enzymatic reactions [14] Both Cucumis sativus L. and Solanum aethiopicum L. fruits are widely grown in Nigeria especially in South Eastern and North Central regions, among others. Since the fruit species of S. aethiopicum L. and C. sativus L. are consumed commonly by people of all ages across the six geographical regions of Nigeria, it is important to comparatively determine the effect of geographical location on the mineral and proximate composition of the fruits in the most widely cultivated and grown regions in Nigeria, this research
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