The Study of Phytochemicals, Proximate and Mineral Contents of Sweet Orange Seeds and Peels.

Abstract

 The study of phytochemicals, proximate and mineral contents of sweet orange seeds and peels was carried out. Standard methods were adopted in carrying out the phytochemical and proximate analyses. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was employed for the mineral composition. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids,  terpenoids, tannins, phenols, glycosides, volatile oils and steroids in both the seeds and peels of the sweet orange .The proximate analysis revealed that the seeds contain moisture(10.92%), ash(4.31%), crude fat(6.37%), crude fibre(1.67%), crude protein(2.36%), and carbohydrate(74.37%) while the peels contains moisture(10.43%), ash(3.66%),crude fat(4.83%),crude fibre (2.35%),crude protein(2.17%) and carbohydrate(76.56%)..The mineral analysis revealed that the seeds contain Mn (0.13mg/100g), Cu(0.27mg/100g), Ni(0.03mg/100g), Cd(0.04mg/100g), Cr(0.15mg/100g), Zn(0.63mg/100g), Ca(31.00mg/100g), Mg(1.02mg/100g), Na(55.56mg/100g) and K(57.50mg/100g) while the peels contain Mn(0.13mg/100g), Cu(0.10mg/100g), Ni(0.01mg/100g), Cd(0.04mg/100g), Cr(0.60mg/100g), Zn(0.27mg/100g), Ca(133.73mg/100g), Mg(0.13mg/100g), Na(55.56mg/100g), and K(60.00mg/100g).The seeds and peels of sweet orange can serve as potential source of nutrients and drugs, with the seeds being better preferred than the peels.