TITLE:
Comparative Assessment of the Proximate and Mineral Composition of Cucumis sativus L. and Solanum aethiopicum L. Fruit Samples Grown in South Eastern and North Central Regions of Nigeria Respectively
AUTHORS:
H. C. Okeke, O. Okeke, K. O. Nwanya, C. R. Offor, C. C. Aniobi
KEYWORDS:
Solanum aethiopicum L., Cucumis sativus L., Proximate Parameters, Mineral Elements, South Eastern Region and North Central Region
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
3,
2021
ABSTRACT: Studies were carried out to comparatively assess the proximate and mineral
composition of Solanum aethiopicum L. and Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the
South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria respectively, following
standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. The mineral elements (Na,
K, Zn and Ca) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer after
wet digestion of the samples while the proximate parameters (ash content, moisture content, crude fibre content, crude protein
content, crude fat content and carbohydrate content) were determined in
accordance with standard analytical procedures. The mean range of the moisture,
crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit samples grown in the North Central and South Eastern regions
of Nigeria were 72.49 - 88.23, 2.15 - 3.67, 1.31 - 1.85, 0.43 - 0.76, 0.51
- 0.84 and 3.18% - 5.72% respectively. Additionally, the moisture, crude fibre,
crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in
the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria, had mean range of
values of 93.60 - 98.76, 0.53 - 0.77, 2.14 - 2.84, 0.29 - 0.46, 0.90 - 1.14 and 3.88% - 4.66% respectively. The
range of mean values of Na, K, Zn and Ca in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit
samples from the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria were 0.36 -
0.57, 1.92 - 2.80, 0.84 - 1.01 and 0.43 - 0.61 μg/g respectively. Also, Na, K,
Zn and Ca had mean range of values of
1.36 - 4.08,
10.16 - 13.09, 0.45 - 0.66 and 5.85 - 9.3 μg/g respectively in the C. sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North
Central regions in Nigeria. The levels of the determined proximate of
parameters and mineral elements in
the studied fruit samples from the investigated regions of Nigeria were
statistically significant. This therefore indicates that the geographical
locations where these fruit samples grew could have significantly impacted on
their nutrient content levels. The levels of the determined proximate parameters from the selected regions of
Nigeria shows that
consumption of the fruit samples (S
aethiopicum L. and C. sativus L.) especially regularly, would help supply
the essential nutrients and minerals required for a healthy living.