Screening of Some Indigenous Wild Fruits for Anti-Nutritional Factors

Abstract

Aim: The levels of some anti-nutritional factors of some common indigenous wild fruits were assessed in order to determine their safety, since these fruits are widely eaten by the indigenes. Study Design: Five samples each of Chrysophyllum albidum (White Star Apple or Local Cherry), Persea americana (avocado pear) Dinnettia tripetala (pepper fruit), Diallium guineense (velvet tamarind), Annona muricata (Soursop) and Citrullus lanatus (water melon) sold in Railway market in Makurdi metropolis were collected and analysed for some anti-nutritional factors (hydrogen cyanide, phytate, tannins, alkaloids and oxalate). Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Chemistry, Benue State University Makurdi between April and May, 2014 Methodology: The analysis was conducted using standard methods. Results: The results of hydrogen cyanide ranged between 0.01 mg/100g, to 0.31 mg/100g Tannins level in the fruits range between 0.03 mg/100g to 65.97 mg/100g. Alkaloids contents of the fruits were general very low (0.01 mg/100g to 0.11 mg/100g). The level of phytate observed in the fruits was found to be in the range 0.04 mg/100g to 0.43 g/100g. Oxalate was found to range between 0.01 mg/100g to 0.53 mg/100g. Conclusion: The result indicates that all the fruits had varying contents of the anti-nutritional factors which should be removed during processing hence continuous consumption may lead to a cumulative effect which may be hazardous to heath.