Abstract
The study was aimed at investigating the concentration of macro/micro elements and proximate content of the fruit of Sarcocephalus latifolius with the view of validating its nutritional benefit to man. The plant material was collected from Gaya in Hong L.G.A of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Proximate analysis was conducted following methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The percentage values of moisture, ash, protein, fibre and carbohydrate available were 14.6, 4.5, 8.52, 32.60 and 45.80 respectively. The levels of 13 elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni) was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. While the content of phosphorus and sulphur in the fruit was determined by colorimetry. Results revealed moderate to high concentrations of some macro and micro elements in the fruit of Sarcocephalus latifolius. Phosphorus was the highest amongst the macro element (0.531 g/100 g) which represent 37.96% of its Required Dietary Allowance (RDA). Magnesium (0.329 g/100 g), potassium (0.294 g/100 g) calcium (0.242 g/100 g) and sodium (0.196 g/100 g) which represent 16.40%, 7.34%, 34.80% and 17.80% of their required dietary allowance. Sulphur was the lowest (0.045 g/100 g) among the macro element. For the microelements, Zn, a potent antioxidant was the highest (0.019 g/100 g) which represents 87.27% of its required dietary allowance (RDA). While Mn and Fe showed 99.8% and 33.3%. In conclusion, both the proximate and elemental concentrations for the fruit of S. latifolius was found within the permissible region set by the World Health Organization.
Highlights
The fruits, seeds and leaves of many wild plants already form common ingredients in a variety of traditional native dishes for the rural populace in developing countries [1]
The moisture content of S. latifolius was 14.60% (Table 1) which falls within the range of values required as safe storage limit for plant food materials [5]
The value was lower compared to 43.2% and 22% reported for Moringa citrifolia fruit and Moringa pubescens fruit [16] which belongs to the same family of plant as S. latifolius (Table 1)
Summary
The fruits, seeds and leaves of many wild plants already form common ingredients in a variety of traditional native dishes for the rural populace in developing countries [1]. It is worthwhile to note that the incorporation of edible wild and semi-cultivated plants could be beneficial to nutritionally marginal populations, or to certain vulnerable groups within populations, especially in developing countries where poverty and climatic changes are causing havoc to the rural populace [7]. Three other closely related species Sarcocephalus pobeguinii, Sarcocephalus diderichi and Sarcocephalus Vandergushtii are forest trees [8]. It is multistemmed and has an open canopy flowers with terminal spherical head like cymes of small whitish flowers. This work is aimed at evaluating the nutritional content of S. latifolius fruit obtained from Gaya, in Hong local government area, Adamawa State with the hope of encouraging the consumption of this forest fruit as an alternative food source
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