Nutrition & Health

Biography

Biography: Ignatius Onimawo

Abstract

Healthy samples of African star apple fruit Chrysophyllum albidum Lin. were purchased from a local market of Ekpoma, Southern Nigeria during the month of April. Standard biochemical protocols were adopted in the evaluation of the physicochemical properties of the pulp. From the results, ash, moisture, protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrate content were found to be 0.41, 85.38, 0.76, 4.32, 0.57 and 8.46%, respectively. It was also observed that the pulp contained 10.19 mg/100 g of calcium, 2.90 mg/100 iron, 102.85 mg/100 g sodium, 40.26 mg/100 g magnesium and 346.17 mg/100 g potassium. Polyphenolics such as tannin, total phenol, alkaloid and flavonoid were found to be 8.31 mg/100 g, 5.57 mg/100 g, 26.79 mg/100 g, and 16.10 mg/100 g, respectively while anti-nutrients such as phytate, oxalate, and saponins were found to be 0.08 g/100 g, 1.25 g/100 g, and 9.38 g/100 g, respectively. The pH, titratable acid, total dissolved solids, total solids, conductivity, sugar and energy content were found to be 2.42, 0.08%, 7.62 g/100 g, 23.33 g/100 g, 232.67Nhoms/an, 18.27 g/100 g, and 206.18 MJ/100 g, respectively. The pulp was found to be very rich in vitamin A (246.33 mg/100 g) while the vitamin C content was 40.06 mg/100g. African star apple is therefore a very nutritious fruit.