Comparative food contents of ripe and unripe fruits of African star apple, Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Syn. Gambeya albida)

Abstract

This study analyzed the nutritive values of the edible portions of ripe and unripe fruits of Chrysophyllum albidum. Ripe and unripe fruits of C. albidum were harvested fresh from Ijan Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The fruits were weighed and then oven-dried at 80^oC for 24 h. The seeds were extracted while the skin and the fleshy part of the fruit were then milled into powdery form. These were then analyzed chemically in triplicates. The data obtained was subjected to Student’s t-test. Weights of ripe and unripe fruits of C. albidum did not reveal any significant difference however when mean values for the two categories were considered, ripe fruits gave a higher value of fruit weight being 55.8 g while unripe fruits gave a lower weight value of 45.2g. Furthermore, Student’s t-test result showed significant differences for all the parameters measured between ripe and unripe fruits of C. albidum. However, considering the mean values for the two fruit categories, those of unripe fruits were higher than those of ripe fruits for all the parameters except for Ash, Moisture content and pH. Unripe fruits had Protein content of 2.30 while ripe fruits had 1.02 with the value of unripe fruits exceeding double that of ripe fruits. Similarly, Fat, Fibre, Carbohydrate (CHO) and Titratable Acidity (TTA) for unripe fruits were higher than those of ripe fruits with values of 1.21, 1.24, 25.20 and 1.39 respectively while ripe fruits had lower values of 0.19, 0.65, 22.00 and 1.06 respectively. However, the % Vitamin C for the two fruit categories were so close with unripe fruits having a value of 0.052 while ripe fruits had a value of 0.049. Nevertheless, % Ash, % Moisture and pH values of 0.63, 70.66 and 2.96 respectively for Unripe fruits were less than those of ripe fruits with values of 0.72, 76.06 and 3.42 respectively. Manufacturing industries can take advantage of these higher nutritional contents of unripe fruits of African star apple instead of the ripe fruits of the same species.

Keywords:  Chrysophyllum albidum, indigenous fruit, chemical analyses, benefits