CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME LESSER-KNOWN WILD FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CONSUMED IN AYAMELUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT

The study identified some edible fresh wild green leafy vegetables and fruits and determined their  nutrients,  antinutrients  and  food  toxicants  content.  The  proximate,  micronutrients, antinutrients   and   food   toxicants   contents   of   these   fruits   (Olax   viridis   (“Osenga”), Gongronema   species   (“Aado”),   Ficus   carpensis   (“Akankolo”),   Napoleona/imperialis (“Ukpodikili”), Afromonum species) (“Okwocha”) and vegetables Vitex doniana (“Uchkulu”) and Ficus carpensis) were determined using standard   methods. The moisture content of the fruits ranged from 59.83 to 75.40% in Olax  viridis (“Osenga”)  and Gongronema  species, (“Aado”) respectively. Olax viridis (“Osenga”) fruits had high levels of protein (6.52%),ash (12.52%),and  fibre  (13.58%).Fiscus  crapensis  (“Akankolo”)  fruit  contained  appreciable quantities  of   ascorbate  (36.mg).Gongronema   species  fruit  is  rich  in  iron  (23.50mg), phosphorus  (44.66mg),  copper (14.06mg) and zinc(12.43mg).  The fruits equally contained high  levels  of phytate  (12.60-108mg)  in Gongronema  species  (“Aado”)  and Olax viridis (“Osenga”).  Afromonum  species (“Okwocha”)  had high oxalate (127.22mg).   Tannins  and saponins levels of the fruits were low (0.05-0.12mg and 0.02-0.30mg),  respectively. Ficus carpensis  (“Akankolo”)  leaf  had  high  moisture  (60.44%)  and  low  protein  (2.18%),  fat (3.42%),   ash   (10.5%),fibre(8.91%)   .Vitex   doniana   (“Uchakulu”)   had  less   than   50% carbohydrate (35.74%) and high fibre(11.45%). Vitex doniana (“Uchakulu”) leaf contained appreciable amounts of β-carotene (67.83mg), and  Fiscus carpensis (“Akankolo”)  leaf had lower B-carotene (27.94mg)  relative to that of Vitex doniana (“uchakulu”) .07.83mg. The ascorbate level (67.83mg)  was high in Vitex doniana. Vitex doniana leaf had appreciable quantities of phosphorus (28.63mg) and high oxalate level (128.56mg). Saponins (0.02mg) and tannins (0.12mg) were low in the two vegetables. The edible lesser-known wild fruits and vegetables  can  contribute  much  more  nutrients  especially  micro  nutrients  to  the  diet  of families in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State. The antinutrients phytate, oxalate, tannin and saponin levels of the fruits and vegetables were at safe levels. Increased consumption of these foods is advocated.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Micronutrient deficiency is still a public health problem in Nigeria despite the effort that has  been made to eliminate it. World Health Organization (WHO) (2002) reported that about 30% of the population in developing countries suffer currently from one or more of the multiple  forms  of  nutritional  deficiencies,  especially  that  of  micronutrient.  Nnanyelugo (1983) stated that incidence of malnutrition  is higher in the  rural areas than urban slums, particularly protein and micronutrient deficiencies.

Onyezili et al., (2005) observed that in most developing countries three micronutrient deficiencies  are common. These are vitamin A deficiency (VAD); iron  deficiency anemia (IDA)  and iodine  deficiency  disease  (IDD).  Nnanyelugo  (1983)  observed  that  deficiency diseases were caused partly because of the food gap seasonality in which people experience food abundance, especially vegetables during the rainy season and severe scarcity during the dry season.

Fruits and vegetables provide people with a range of compounds, many of which have more than one role, being involved both with immediate  good health and with  protection against disease that can develop over a long period of time, such as cancer, heart conditions, stroke, hypertention,  birth defects, cataracts and diabetes.(Tenny  and Barrett, 1997). Fruits and vegetables are generally acceptable as good sources of nutrient and supplement for food in a world faced with scarcity .They are known to be excellent source of nutrients such as minerals and vitamins (Nhar et al., 1990)

The high incidence of malnutrition, especially in children has been seen as the core cause of major forms of anemia in children and pregnant /nursing mothers (that is nutritional deficiency  and  haemolytic  anemia)  (Trumb  and  Yates,  2001).  Pamploma-Rogres  (2004) stated that fruits and vegetables have been linked to the management of anemia because of

they are rich in vitamins and minerals. Some of these vitamins are not directly involved in red blood cell production but they promote the absorption of other important minerals, example ascorbic acid promotes the absorption of iron from the small intestine.

In Anambra  State,  most staple  foods  are consumed  without  vegetables  especially during the dry season. There are many wild vegetables  and fruits wasting  in forest. Uzo (1989) reported that such vegetables as Geotum Africana (“Okazi”), Pterocarpas milbreadi (“ora”), Pterocarp sp (“Uturukpa”) grow wild. There are many fruits and tender leaves of the wild vegetables that are readily available in the forest and farmlands during the dry season. They  could  be  utilized  to  provide  protein  and  micronutrient  needs  of  the  populace.  In Ayamelum local government area of  Anambra  State, many leafy vegetables and fruits are grown  wildly  and  there  has   been  little  or  no  work  on  their  nutrient  composition. Documentation of the nutrient potentials of these wild fresh fruits and vegetables would be valuable in the food-based approach to eliminating micronutrient deficiencies.

1.2 Statement of the problem

There are many wild fruits and vegetables in Ayamelum local government area  of Anambra State which were popular in the past but are no longer popular in the present time. The fruits and vegetables are not owned by a particular individual, they could be collected freely and consumed by the populace to increase nutrient intake. Some of the wild vegetables are available during dry season when many domestic fruits and vegetables are scare and very expensive.  Thus,  they  could  fill  the  gap  experienced  in  vegetable  consumption  in  rural community during dry season. Despite the abundance of these fruits and vegetables, there is still problem of micronutrient deficiency in Nigeria. There is need to identify and evaluate the nutrient, antinutrients and food toxicant levels of some of the wild vegetables and fruits. The fruits   and   vegetables   could   be   integrated   in   the   food-based   approach   for   fighting micronutrient deficiency in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the study

The  general  objective  of the  study  is to determine  the nutrient,  antinutrients  and toxicant  levels  of lesser-known  wild  fruits and vegetables  consumed  in  Ayamelum  local government area. The specific objectives were to,

(i)  identify some wild fruits and vegetables consumed in Ayamelum local government area;

(ii) determine  the  proximate,  minerals    and  vitamins  levels  of  the  wild  fruits  and vegetables identified; and.

(iii)determine the antinutrients and food toxicant (phytate, oxalate, tannins and saponins)

levels of the wild fruits and vegetables identified.

1.4 Significance of the study

The study will directly benefit the inhabitants of Ayamelum local government. This is because  fruits and vegetables  to be identified  and analyzed are already  available in their locality.  They  could  be  sensitized  to  the  availability  of  the  fruits  and  vegetables  for integration in their dietary plan. The study will provide base-line information on the nutrient and antinutrient  composition  of the wild fruits and  vegetables  found  in Ayamelum  local government  area.  The  information  will  be  of  use  to  Dieticians,  Nutritionists  and  Home Economic Extension Staff in their nutrition Education programme to popularize the fruits and vegetables. The study will assist help in the estimation of dietary requirement of the fruits and vegetables. The accurate information on the nutrient and antinutrients composition of these fruits and vegetables will also help to integrate them in the food based approach for fighting micronutrients deficiency.

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