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Mineral and nutritive value of Dennettia tripetala fruits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2005

Donatus Ebere Okwu  and
Frank N.I. Morah
Donatus Ebere Okwu
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
Frank N.I. Morah
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
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Abstract

Introduction. Dennettia tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae), or pepper fruit tree, is a well-known Nigerian spicy medicinal plant. The mineral, vitamin and nutrient composition of the fruit of Dennettia tripetala were determined. Materials and methods. Ripe fruits of Dennettia tripetala were analysed for proximate composition, and mineral and vitamin contents. Results and discussion. Our work showed that Dennettia tripetala contained crude protein (15.31%), total carbohydrate (62%), crude fibres (9.84%), crude lipids (3.47%) and moisture (8.0%). It had a calorific value of 480.24 g cal·100 g–1 of fresh fruit, and mineral content comprised: calcium (1.80%), phosphorus (0.33%), potassium (2.50%) and magnesium (0.42%). Trace elements included iron, copper, zinc and cadmium, but chromium was not detected. The water-soluble vitamins include ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Conclusion. Our work justifies the use of Dennettia tripetala fruits as food and a drug in herbal medicine in Southeastern Nigeria.

Keywords

NigeriaDennettia tripetalafruitsproximate compositionnutritive valueenergy valuemedicinal propertiesNigériaDennettia tripetalafruitscomposition globalevaleur nutritivevaleur énergetiquepropriété pharmacologique
Type
Research Article
Information
Fruits , Volume 59 , Issue 6 , November 2004 , pp. 437 - 442
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences

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