Determination of the level of some selected metals and nutritional value of white and redanchote tuber

Abstract

White and red Coccinia Abyssinica (anchotes) are most popular food commonly used in Ethiopia, especially in western part of Oromia. This paper reports the level of some metals found in white and red anchote tuber and their nutritional value. Samples of white and red anchote were collected from Liban Jawi District, Oromia and then digested. The contents of the metals in the digests were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). Furthermore, proximate and nutritional composition of both varieties of anchote were determined. The concentration ranges recorded in unprocessed edible parts of white Coccinia Abyssinica (in mg/100g) samples were, Na (25.66), K (416.66), Ca (113.20) and Mg (13.5), and that of red Coccinia Abyssinica (in mg/Kg) in anchote sample were Na (570), K (510), Ca (101.80) and Mg (29.7). In red Coccinia Abyssinica, the concentration of K was the highest followed by Ca, Na and Mg while in white Coccinia Abyssinica, the concentration of K was the highest followed by Ca, Mg and Na. The proximate and nutritional composition value of red and white anchote were described as; moisture contents (78.13, 74.39) , crude protein (6.70 , 4.95 ), crude fat (0.35 ,1.75 ), crude fiber (5.05 ,4.76 ), total ash (1.04 , 1.46) and total carbohydrate (8.73 , 12.69 ) were recorded. The result shows that red anchote was higher in crude fiber, moitsure and crude protein content compared to the white anchote. However white anchote contained more amount of fat, ash and carbohydrate. Further investigation on other parameters and heavy metals are valuable to clearly understand the complete nutritional potential and safety of the crop.