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Comparative study of nutrient and anti-nutrient content of Gnetum africanum (AFANG) and Heinsia crinita (ATAMA)


FE Ekpo
ME Asuquo
EJ Uwanta

Abstract

The proximate composition (moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein, fibre content, and carbohydrate), the mineral compositions (Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn); and anti-nutrients (oxalate, phytate, hydrocyanic acid and tannin)
were determined in Gnetum africanum (Afang) and Heinsia crinita (Atama). The percent crude protein, crude fat, moisture content, carbohydrate values (38.40%, 24.69%, 84.70% and 10 48%) of Heinsia crinita were significantly (p<0.05) higher than values obtained from Gnetum africanum (26.50%, 14.34%, 63.78% and 6.75%) respectively. The concentrations of mineral elements phosphorus, potassium, iron, magnesium and calcium were (1.25%, 1.64%, 3.05%, 2.39% and 2.22%) respectively in Heinsia crinita and (0.14%, 0.10%, 1.15% 0.92% and 0.45%) respectively.
The values of mineral elements were significantly higher (p<0.05) higher in Heinsia crinita than Gnetum africanum. The percent hydrogen cyanide, phytate, oxalate, and tannin values (3.51%, 6.12%, 24.4% and 2.80%) of Gnetum africanum were significantly (p<0.05) higher than values obtained from Heinsia crinita (1.20%, 3.51%, 10.12% and 0.78%) respectively The results showed that Heinsia crinita had more nutritive values than Gnetum africanum which are needed for a variety of cellular functions in humans, and which could reduce the problem of protein energy malnutrition (PEM).

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eISSN: 2992-4464
print ISSN: 1118-0579