Proximate Analysis, Ascorbic Acid, Phytochemicals and Some Heavy Metals Composition of Lagenaria Breviflora (Wild Colocynth) Fruit, Seed and Leaf from Bushy Uncultivated Area in Henshaw Town, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fruits provide nutrients for growing seeds. Seeds are important organs for the distribution of plants, while leaves are very essential in the manufacture of food for the plant. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the proximate analysis, ascorbic acid, phytochemical and some heavy metals composition of Lagenaria breviflora (Wild colocynth) fruit, seed, leaf from a bushy uncultivated area in Henshaw Town, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.using standard analytical methods. The result of the proximate composition was shown to be 10% ash, 0.26% protein, 1.5% fat, 43.3% fibre, 88% moisture 44.94% carbohydrate in the fruit sample result revealed 22.5% ash, 1.50% protein, 12.5% fat, 16.60% fibre 42% moisture, 47.15% carbohydrate in the leaf sample. The seed sample was found to contained 5.5% ash, 1.69% protein, 16.25% fat, 40% fibre, 84% moisture and 36.56% carbohydrate. The ascorbic acid contents were found to be 85.88% in the fruit, 65.12% in the seed and 66.88% in the leaf samples. Result of the phytochemicals determination revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and phytate in the fruit, leaf and seed. The results show alkaloid content to be 0.026% in the fruit, 0.044% in the seed and 0.018% in the 0.240% in the leaf. Percent tannin content was 2.1% in the fruit, 1.9% in the seed and 2.0% in the leaf. Phytate was also found to be 0.9% in the fruit, 1.9% in the seed and 2.0% in the leaf. Phytate was also found to be 0.9% in the fruit, 0.5% in the seed, and 0.9% in the leaf. The heavy metals analysis of the samples indicated that cadmium and lead were not detected in the three samples, the fruit contained 0.0053 mg/kg of chromium, 0.006 mg/kg of iron, the seed contained 0.0012mg/kg of Chromium, 0.0037mg/kg iron. The leaf was found to contain 0.0021 mg/kg of chromium, 0.0110 mg/kg of iron. These values were within the permissible limits of WHO. Fruit, seed and leaf have good nutritional status from the high carbohydrate, fibre, moisture and ascorbic acid content, and are suitable for consumption as food, especially the fruit.