Nutritional Evaluation of a Wild Edible Fruit Mondia whitei (Hook .f.) Skeels Consumed by Some Human Populations in Izzi Clan, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Amaechi Nuria Chinonyerem *
Department of Food Science and Technology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
Egesi Nkeiruka Maryjane
Department of Food Science and Technology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mondia whitei fruit is consumed as a wild edible fruit by some human populations in Izzi land in Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria. There is dearth of information on its nutritional value, therefore a study was conducted by evaluating its proximate composition, sugar, mineral, vitamins and phytochemical contents on fresh weight basis. Results indicated a high moisture content of 88.20% while total sugar content was 15.70% and reducing sugars had a value of 9.63%. Its energy value was 40.80 KCal/100 g. It had very low riboflavin content but thiamin and niacin had values of 1.53 mg/100 g and 3.04 mg/100 g. Results also indicated the presence of antioxidant vitamins C and E which had values of 14.50 mg/100 g and 2.45 µg/g respectively. Potassium and sodium were the most abundant mineral elements analyzed. It had insignificant amount of antinutritional phytochemicals, hence the fruit is not toxic for human consumption.
Keywords: Mondia whitei, proximate composition, total sugars, vitamin, minerals, phytochemicals