Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Nutritionally Valuable Minerals, Phytochemicals and Antinutrients Composition of Fresh and Freeze-Dried Wonderful Kola Seeds (Buccholziacoriacea, Engl. Capparaceae)
by Ajayi, Morenike Grace, Amoo, IsiakaAdekunle Ayoade, Wahab Gbolahan

Abstract:
Wonderful kola seed known for its high medicinal value and great economic importance was evaluated for its mineral composition, phytochemicals, and anti-nutrients composition using standard analytical methods. Minerals (mg/kg) such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium were present in appreciable quantity in both the freeze-dried and fresh sample.Manganese, iron, copper, zinc, nickel,cadmium and lead were present in negligible quantities ranging from 0.01 to 0.64 in both samples with higher values in freeze dried seeds sample. The values observed in the freeze-dried sample for sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium were 14.80, 40.59, 8.24 and12.33 respectively which were higher compared to the fresh sample. The ratio of Na/K was less than one in both samples.Qualitative analysis of some phytochemicals revealed the presence alkaloid, flavonoid, phlobatannin, steroid, terpenoid, saponinand, tannin but anthraquinone and cardiac glycoside were detected only in ethanol extract of the dried sample.The values of phytochemicals which were considered asanti-nutrients (oxalate and phytate) were lower in the freeze-dried sample than the fresh sample. Ethanol was found to be the best solvent for extraction with highest values of phytochemicals than acetone and aqueous extracts. The results revealed that wonderful kola seed is a good source of nutritional valuable minerals and phytochemicals which support the use of the seed in treating many diseases.

Keywords: Phytochemicals, Macrominerals, Antinutrients, Freeze Drying and Wonderful Kola

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