COMPARATIVE PROXIMATE, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF RAW AND BOILED BORASSUS AETHIOPUM MART

Abstract

Comparative screening of proximate, phytochemical and mineral contents of raw and boiled Borassus aethiopum was conducted. Seed shoot samples used in the study were obtained from a farm site in Akpacha, Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. For each sample, 100g of the seedlings or hypocotyls were washed, rinsed (raw samples), and boiled for 30 minutes (boiled samples). Standard methods were used for assessment of the raw and boiled samples each in ten replicates. The results, obtained from the data, subjected to a one way ANOVA showed significant differences (P< 0.05) between the means of the raw and boiled samples in moisture, crude fibre, ash content, crude fat and carbohydrate. Crude proteins of the raw and boiled samples showed no significant differences. There was significant differences in the means of the raw and boiled samples in Phytate, Oxalate, Flavonoid, Saponin and Alkaloid contents. There was no significant differences (P> 0.05) in tannin and phenol contents of both the raw and the boiled samples. There was significant differences (P< 0.05) in the mineral contents of the raw and boiled samples. Except in the case of Potassium that decreased on boiling, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous and Sodium contents increased on boiling. The implications of the results on human nutrition were discussed.