Proximate and mineral compositions of Spondias mombin, Canarium schweinfurthii, and Citrus sinensis fruits

Abstract

Background: Fruits are well known for being nourishing. In Nigeria, some are used and eaten to their full potential, while others go underutilized. A preference for their usage in nutrition may result from elucidating the nutritional benefits of certain fruits.

Objective: This study investigated the proximate and mineral composition of fruits from Spondias mombin (Hog plum), Canarium schweinfurthii (Bullet pear), and Citrus sinensis (Orange) trees in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Methods: Fruits were collected, washed, peeled, and carefully pressed into pulps. The pulp was investigated for proximate and mineral compositions following standard methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. At p<0.05 level of significance, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean.

Results: The proximate and mineral compositions of the fruits were significant (p < 0.05). The protein levels in the fruits were 2.60 ± 0.12 to 3.74±0.01 percent. Carbohydrate content was C. schweinfurthii: 33.43 ± 0.026; S. mombin: 1.01 ± 0.12; and C. sinensis: 2.37 ± 0.15. The ash contents of the fruits were low (1.34 - 2.86g/100 g). Citrus sinensis has the least amount of fat (0.55), while C. schweinfurthii has the highest (1.57). The minerals present in the fruits were in the order of K ˃ Na ˃ Ca ˃ Mg ˃ Fe ˃ Zn ˃ P ˃ Cu ˃ Mn ˃ nitrate.

Conclusion: The fruits have ample nutrients, therefore, lack of nutritional information on the moderately utilized and underutilized fruits may be responsible for the peoples' preferred choice of well-utilized fruits.