Proximate and Phytochemical Composition of some Monodora myristica Fruits Consumed in Nigerian States

Abstract

The samples of Mondora myristica seeds sourced from three locations (Anambra State, Abia State and Imo State) were analyzed for their proximate composition and antinutrients constituents. The results revealed the presence of all food fractions (protein, fibre, moisture, ash, fat and carbohydrate) in these spices. The percentage of each food fraction differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the three samples. The results suggest that these samples of M. myristica are good sources of the various food fractions. Antinutrients such as tannins, oxalate, phytate, alkaloids, saponins and cyanogenic glycoside were found to be present in these spices. The concentration of these antinutrients in these spices was low. Therefore, consumption of these samples of M. myristica will not pose any danger to human health, since none of their concentration is above the lethal dosage. The concentration of each antinutrient differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in these three samples of M. myristica. Carbohydrate was the most abundant (39.917%) while ash was the least abundant (2.19%) proximates in the M. myristica samples used.  Oxalate was the most abundant (18.5973 mg/100) while cyanogenic glycoside was the least abundant (0.0469 mg/100) phytochemicals in the M. myristica samples used. M. myristica sourced from Imo State had the highest alkaloid (4.06 mg/100 g), oxalate (23.232 mg/100 g), flavonoid (2.79 mg/100 g), cyanogenic glycoside (0.0617 mg/100 g) and phytate (0.3336 mg/100 g) contents, and M. myristica  sourced from Abia State had the highest saponin (6.50 mg/100 g) content.