Chemical Composition Of Some Neglected Fruits

ABSTRACT

 The chemical and nutrient composition of some neglected fruits from different species of plants was tested which include; Nauclea latfolia (Rubiaceae), Detarium senegalense (Caesalpiniodeae), vitex grandfolia (Verbenaceae), premna hispids (Verbenaceae) and small red fruit. The fruits of the plants were used for the analysis. Averagely, the chemical constituents of the fruits are as follows; Alkaloid (0.27-0.74%), flavonoid (0.24-0.39), saponin (0.27-0.61%), phenol (0.04-0.18) and tannin (0.18-0.57). The fruits contained crude fibre (5.07-13.90), protein (3.74-13.07), Ash (3.18-6.98) and moisture (31.51-47.22). The fruits contained high levels of Vitamins and minerals which includes: Magnesium (18.50-57.0) Calcium (25.37-156.31), Phosphorus (89.50-416.22) and Potassium (45.34-312.27). Vitamin C (32.85-127.89) and Vitamin A (55.89-588.3). The fruit of Nauclea latfolia was found to be the richest in alkaloid, saponin and tannin. The result suggested that the fruits are rich nutritionally and have potentials for both food and Pharmaceutical industries.