ABSTRACT

Nutrient composition and shelf life of bitter gourd juice was studied. Juice was from bitter gourd (Morinordicacharantia), sweetened with varying levels of date palm fruit extracts (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) and analysed for physicochemical properties and nutrient status (proximate, minerals, vitamins and anti-nutrients) as well as shelflife determination. Results ofthe analysis ofthe juice show lower pH (5.03) in the control than in the sweetened juices (5.30-6.07). total solids increased from 13.78%(control) to 16.6I%(20% sweetener), Titratable acidity reduced from 0.34%(control) to 0.19% (20% sweetener). Nutritional properties showed slight but significant increases in protein (2.34% to 2.69%), Ash (1.49% to 1.88%), Fibre (0.46% to 1.36%) while fat reduced from 0.29% to 0.25%. carbohydrate increased from 9.21% to 10.10%. There was enhancement of the mineral content with increases in calcium (41.04mg/100g to 53.30mg/100g), potassium (121.67mg/100g to 125.37mg/100g), sodium (14.13mg/100g to 17.03mg/100g) while phosphorus and magnesium reduced (202.40mg/100g to 195.33mg/100g and 11.63mg/100g to 10.83mg/100g respectively). Thiamine(Bl) and Riboflavin were not affected by the addition of the sweetener. Thiamine was

0.03mg/100g in all the juice samples while riboflavin was basically 0.02mg/100g

in the juices while vitamin A decreased from 48.73mg/100g to 37.1mg/100g and

vitamin C increased from 2.49mg/100g to 3.05mg/100g. anti-nutrient analysis

showed decreases in all anti-nutrient tested including alkaloid (0.46% to 0.37%),

phytate (0.36% to 0.29%), oxalate (0.27% to 0.23%) and saponin (0.31 % to 0.19%).

Shelflife ofthe juices was not affected by the sweeteners as all “spoilt” on the third

day marked by bacterial load above 1.0xl0Dcfu/ml. meanwhile the bacterial load

at production time was within acceptable limits being in the range of

1.26><I02cfu/ml (control) to 1.39x10Dcfu/ml (20% sweetened). It was observed

that the use ofthe sweeteners impacted positively on the bitter gourd juices as all

were acceptable panelists with mean scores ranging from 6.03 to 7.10 and the 9-

point hedonic scale, it was concluded that there were more positive impact by the

sweeteners than negative ones on the bitter gourd juices. This successful use ofthe

date palm fruits imply high potentials ofincreased utility application ofthe fruit. It

was therefore recommended that underutilized wild but edible fruits like bitter

gourd (wild cucumber) should be harnessed for useful utilization especially as

many ofthem may have health benefits. Also, the use of fruit sugars (like those in

the date palm fruits) as organic sweeteners should be encouraged since they impact

positively on products as seen in this work.