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AN ANALYSIS OF NUTRITIONAL VALUES AND MINERAL CONTENT OF LOCUS BEAN SEED IN PANKSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT

The most logical approach towards the improvement and efficient use of indigenous seed to supply nutritional requirement for human diet is through the investigation of their nutritional values. This study was carried out to investigate the nutritional values and mineral content of locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) seed. The seed was separated from the fruit into outer yellow pulp and inner seed and were analyzed for proximate, vitamins and mineral contents. The result obtained from the proximate analysis of the flour of locust bean seed shows that the mechanical energy content of the Locust bean seeds was 395.76±0.28 which is higher than the Crude Protein content 43.82±0.56, followed by the Lipids content 24.48±0.21, Crude Fibre content 21.38±0.14. The moisture content of Locust bean seeds was 7.84±0.07 which is lower than mechanical energy, crude protein, crude fibre, lipids but higher than the Ash and Nitrogen free extracts (NFE) which has the content of 2.44±0.12 and 0.06±0.03 respectively. The result obtained from the mineral composition of the flour of locust bean seeds shows that the calcium content of the Locust Bean Seeds was statistically higher at p<0.05 having value of 0.68±0.08 than the Phosphorus content having a value of 0.09±0.05. This finding means that Locust bean seeds flour can serve as good source of plant protein in human nutrition. It can also provide an alternative way of using the human nutrition cereals to improve global food security challenge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study     –           –           –           –           –           –           1

1.2       Statement of the Problem     –           –           –           –           –           –           3

1.3       Purpose of the Study –           –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.4       Research Questions   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.5       Research Hypotheses            –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.6       Significance of the study      –           –           –           –           –           –           4

1.7       Scope and Delimitation of the Study           –           –           –           –           5

1.8       Operational Definition of Terms     –           –           –           –           –           5

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1       Study Area     –                       –           –           –           –           –           –           25

3.2       Research Design                    –           –           –           –           –           –           26

3.3       MATERIALS/REAGENTS USED FOR THE STUDY   –           –           26

3.3.1    Materials        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           26

3.3.2    Reagents and Chemicals       –           –           –           –           –           –           27

3.3.3    Study Object  –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

3.4       METHODS   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

3.4.1    Sample Collection     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

3.4.2Locus Bean Seed Processing    –           –           –           –           –           –           28

3.5       PROCEDURES OF THE NUTRITIONAL

AND MINERAL CONTENT ANALYSIS –          –           –           28

3.5.1    Procedures for moisture analysis (AOAC, 2003)   –           –           –           28

3.5.2    Procedure for Crude Ash Analysis (AOAC, 2003)            –           –           30

3.5.3    Procedure for Crude Protein Analysis (Kjeldahl Method)          –           30

• Procedure for Crude Fat (Soxlet Method) – –           –           –           32
• Procedures for Crude Fibre

Analysis – (Filtration Method)        –           –           –           –           –           33

3.5.6    Procedure for Calcium

Analysis – (Spectrophotometric Method)   –           –           –           –           35

3.5.7    Procedures for Phosphorus

Analysis – (Spectrophotometric Method)   –           –           –           –           36

3.6      DATA ANALYSIS               –           –           –           –           –           –           38

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1       Proximate Analysis of the Flour of

Locust Bean Seed      –                       –           –           –           –           –           39

4.2       Mineral Composition of the Flour of         

Locust Bean Seeds    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           41

4.3       Discussions     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           43

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION, LIMITATION AND SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDY

5.1       Summary of Findings           –           –           –           –           –           –           46

5.2       Conclusion     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           47

• Recommendation      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           47

5.4       Limitation of the Study        –           –           –           –           –           –           48

5.5       Suggestion for Further Study          –           –           –           –           –           48

REFERENCE           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           49

APPENDIX   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           56

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

The quality and quantity of nutrients present in the food consumed by people in developing countries is very low compared to the actual requirement from a balance diet for normal growth, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 2004). Rural dwellers in developing countries cannot afford animal products which are rich sources of protein because they are either too expensive or simply unavailable (Olujobi, 2012). This situation has made many people to depend mainly on carbohydrate diets; comprising cereal grains or starchy roots and tuber crops with low protein, thus leading to high level of malnutrition. In the quest of rural dwellers to increase the protein level of their food, many wild fruits have been found to be good alternative. In many communities in south west Nigeria, edible fruits from wild plants are often taken as food or added to food as condiment to supplement important minerals and vitamins in human diets (Olujobi, 2012).

The contribution of these wild edible fruits and seeds to the dietary need and nutritional requirement of people in the rural area cannot be overemphasized. Some wild fruits seeds have higher nutritional values in term of protein compared, with the levels found in some cultivated fruits (Eromosele et al., 1991 and Alabi et al., 2005). Fruits of most tropical trees are good source of minerals, fibre and vitamins and they also provide essential nutrient such as protein for human health (Ali and Deokule, 2009). Locust bean fruit and seed is a good example of widely consumed wild fruit in Nigeria. Locust bean tree grows over a wide range of agroecosystem from rain forest in the south to savannahin the north. In the search for plant protein and vitamin substitutes, Africa locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) seed has been found to be very useful especially in the fermented form and it is widely eaten among all the tribes across the country. However, the yellow dry powdery fruit pulp has not attracted much attention.

The African Locus bean (Parkia biglobosa) called “Irugba” (Yoruba), “Doruwa” (Hausa) and “Nmess” (Mwaghavul) is a tree that is widely distributed in Northern Nigeria. It belongs to the legume family, legumnosae. The pods are flat, large, irregular clusters from which the locust bean seeds are obtained (Omafunbe et’al, 2004). It contains about 14.3% fibre and 48.5% carbohydrate. The African locust been is consumed mainly because the fruit is rich in minerals and provided valuation protein (Odunfa, 1983).  Literature has revealed that the fruit pulp is used in rural communities in Africa during emergencies, when the grain stores are empty (Edem and Miranda, 2011). The pulp is also used as an ingredient in the preparation of various stews, and soups (Odebunmi et al., 2010).

Omafuvbe (2002) stated that the fermented locust bean seed is commonly consumed in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone and Togo. In Nigeria it is called iru in Yoruba, dawadawa in Hausa, Nmess in Mwaghavul and ogiri `igala in Igbo. It is also referred to as kinda in Sierra-Leone and Ghana. They are also important protein supplement (Omafuvbe, 2002). Shelf life is the period of time during which the food product was remain safe , be certain to retain desired microbiology, physical, chemical and sensory characteristics and comply the nutritional data when stored under conditions (temperature or handling) Kolapo et al., (2007).

Recently the urgency of the world food problem has thrown a challenge not only to the agriculturist and nutritionist but also to the foresters, to investigate the possibility of utilizing product from wild plants as additional source of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and energy. In order to guide the choice of the portion of wild fruits to be consumed and the provenance that will be very rich in term of their nutritional value, there is the need to chemically analyze the nutritional composition of the African locust been seed. Hence this study was designed to determine the nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed in Pankshin Local Government Area, Plateau State.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The most logical approach towards the improvement and efficient use of indigenous fruits to supply nutritional requirement for human diet is through the investigation of their nutritional values. Over the years, it have been observed that rural dwellers in developing countries like Nigeria specifically Pankshin LGA of Plateau State cannot afford animal products consistently which are rich sources of protein because they are either too expensive or simply unavailable. This situation has made many people mostly the rural areas to depend mainly on carbohydrate diets; comprising cereal grains or starchy roots and tuber crops with low protein, thus leading to high level of malnutrition.

The increasing reliance on carbohydrate sources is as a result of lack of awareness, creative skills as well as technical skills by the agriculturists, nutritionist and farmers to effectively utilize leguminous crops through chemically analysis and determination of the nutritional composition of these wild fruits to come up with less expensive protein sources. In an attempt to rectify this shortfall in the future, efforts are to be made to analyze the nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed which is the main aim and objectives of this study.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The general aim and objectives of this study is an analysis of nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed in Pankshin Local Government Area, Plateau State. Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Analyze the nutritional values of locus bean seed.
2. Determine the mineral content of locus bean seed.
3. Evaluate the health benefit of locus bean seed to mankind.

1.4       Research Questions

The following research questions guided the conduct of this study;

1. What are the Chemical properties of the soil of the collection of locus bean seed?
2. What are the nutritional values of locus bean seed?
3. What is significant mineral content of locus bean seed?
4. What is the health benefit of locus bean seed to mankind?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed on human health.

Ha: There is a significant relationship between the nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed on human health.

1.5       Significance of the study

            This study will be of immense importance to agriculturist most especially the  nutritionist and also to the foresters by creating awareness and technical skills to effectively utilize product from wild plants as additional source of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and energy to be consumed and the provenance that will be very rich in term of their nutritional value.

1.6       Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This research is delimited to the analysis of nutritional values and mineral content of locus bean seed in Pankshin Local Government Area, Plateau State.

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms

Terms that are related to the study are defined below in order to remove somatic ambiguity in their usage.

Analysis:                                            Detailed examination of the elements or structure of something. In this study, it refers to detail examination of the nutritional value and mineral content of locus bean seed and its effect on human health.

Nutritional Value:                             It refers to the measure of a well-balanced ratio of the essential nutrients carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, and vitamins in items of food or diet concerning the nutrient requirements of their consumer.

Mineral Content:                  Literally, it implies those elements on the earth and in foods that our bodies need to develop and function normally. In this study, it refers to examination of those that minerals that are essential for human health and they may include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, chromium, copper, fluoride, molybdenum, manganese, and selenium.

Locus Bean Seed:                              Literally, it refers to the seed of African locust bean tree which is a multipurpose tree. The seeds, pods, fruit pulp and leaves are edible and used as cooking or drinking ingredients.