| Abstrakt: |
Fruits producing medicinal plants are particularly desirable, the seeds produced are considered as waste after the fruits are consumed. This study assessed the nutritional constituents of some fruits seeds by assessing the proximate, minerals and vitamins present in the seeds of Citrullus lanatus (Water melon), Malus pumila (Apple), Annona muricata (Sour sap), Persea americana (Avocado), Terminalia catappa (Almond fruit), and Carica papaya (Pawpaw). The proximate analysis, mineral and vitamin composition of the selected medicinal fruit seeds were investigated using the standard method of analysis. On the proximate composition, protein content ranged from 15.21-34.70%, crude fat: 13.82-33.15%, crude fibre: 6.96-21.71%, ash content: 2.62-5.90%, moisture content: 7.81-20.72% and carbohydrate: 12.19-26.58%; for mineral content, Sodium ranged from 26.2-832 mg/kg, Potassium: 571-4862 mg/kg, Calcium: 194-2070 mg/kg, Magnesium: 28-862 mg/kg, Phosphorus: 104-1070 mg/kg, Iron: 2.53-60.00 mg/kg, Manganese: 2.73-240 mg/kg, Copper: 1.64-73.00 mg/kg and Zinc: 3.42-84.00 mg/kg, while for vitamins, vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) content ranged from 1.26-23.54 mg/100g, vitamin E content ranged from 0.70-1.57 mg/100g; vitamin A (β-carotene) content ranged from not detected-5.61 mg/100g, while vitamin B content ranged from 0.02 mg/100g-2.67 mg/100g. The fruits' seeds show a considerable amount of vital nutritional chemicals which makes them as good as the fruits and could serve as nutraceutical remedy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
