Potentials of tamarindus indica (Linn) in jam production

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of tamarind fruits in jam production with a view to improving utilization efficiency of the fruits thereby adding value to the tree and encouraging its cultivation and sustainable management. The fruits for the study were collected from Bishop Ajayi Crowther University, in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo town, Oyo State and Taironi Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria. The jam was prepared using variable proportions of pulp and sugar. Chemical and microbial analyses were carried out on the jam. Heavy metal contents were determined and sensory evaluation was carried out. Physical and chemical properties of jams produced from the fruits of the two locations were compared. Data generated was analyzed using students t-test. There is no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the moisture contents of the jams produced from the fruits from both locations. Some essential elements including Zn (0.74mg), Mg (0.68mg), Cd (0.26mg), Mn (0.94mg), Pb (0.55mg), Fe (0.29mg), Cr (0.67mg), and Cu (0.17mg) were contained in the jam. The levels of heavy metals found in the jam are significantly lower than the UN/WHO allowable standard for human consumption while some of the other metals are actually of high nutritional values. There are indications that the jam could keep well at room temperature. Oyo State sample is higher in mineral element than that of Kano State. The ascorbic acid content is low in both Kano and Oyo samples. Pulp and sugar were rated most acceptable by a panel of judges on a nine point hedonic scale. Tamarind possesses great potentials for jam making and is safe for human consumption and well accepted by consumers. Further development of the jam to an industrial status was recommended.Key words: Non-Timber forest Products, Value addition, Tamarindus indica (Linn), Ja

ANTIPYRETIC EFFECT OF RAUWOLFIA VOMITORIA IN RABBITS

The aqueous extract of the leaves of Rauwolfia vomitoria (family, Apocynaceae) in a dose of 1.2 gkg-1 given orally produced a decrease in temperature from 42.0oC to 40.0oC in about 2 hours in rabbits infected with Klebsiella aerogenes. Key Words: Rauwolfia vomitoria, Apocynaceae, antipyretic, Klebsiella aerogenes Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.3 1999: 77-7

Proximate and Cholesterol Composition of Selected Fast Foods Sold in Nigeria

Fast foods consumption has been on the increase in Nigeria raising concerns about the nutritional and health implications. This study was carried out to determine the proximate composition and cholesterol contents of four commonly consumed fast foods (doughnut, chicken pie, roasted chicken, and Jollof rice) sold in Nigeria. Commonly consumed fast foods and most widely patronized fast food outlets were determined by a preliminary survey. There was a wide variation in the proximate  composition and cholesterol contents of the food samples. Average dry matter ranged between 68.8 – 84.0g while the range of values for ash, crude fibre, crude fat, crude protein and nitrogen free extract were 0.89 – 2.45%, 0.56 – 7.53%, 10.99 – 18.52%, 1.81 – 9.71% and 43.32 – 66.98% respectively. Energy content of the fast foods ranged between 304.9 and 400.8 Kcal/100 g. Cholesterol levels ranged between 10.40 – 117.80 (mg/100 g) in the food samples. This study has established the fact that fast foods are concentrated sources of energy, low fibre and high dietary cholesterol and could significantly contribute to dietary cholesterol intake with implications for cardiovascular health.Keywords: Proximate composition, cholesterol, health, fast food, nutrition

Nutrient Composition and Phytate-Zinc Molar Ratio of Prepared Foods Consumed by Rural Preschool Children

Objective: The aim of this study is to provide information on the variety and nutrient content of prepared dishes offered preschool children living in rural villages. Materials and Methods: Respondents for this study were 116 preschool children living in University Agriculture Abeokuta [UNAAB] extension villages in Ogun State south-western part of Nigeria. Representative samples of cooked dishes offered to the children were taken for three days for each child. The samples were placed in sealed food containers and were taken for proximate and micronutrient analysis. Result: Data from this study showed that the foods with the highest protein were kulikuli a groundnut cake (34.74g/100g) and fish (28.94g/100g). High energy sources came from groundnut (676Kcal) others include ogbono soup a dika nut kernel soup (288.60Kcal) and akara (fried cowpea paste) (279.84Kcal). High calcium foods include kulikuli (871.08mg/100g), akara (296.13mg/100g) and fufu a wet cassava meal (255.31mg/100g). kulikuli was also high in iron and zinc (20mg/100g and 33.22mg/100g respectively). Phytate content of the dishes ranged from 0.09mg/100g in kunu to 4.12 mg/100g in kulikuli. Phytate- zinc molar ratio wa

Phytonutrient, Antioxidant and Mineral Composition of Some Wild Fruits in South West Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the chemical composition, antinutrient and phytonutrient contents of some wild fruits, namely African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don.), hog plum (Spondias mombin Linn.), bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis Baill.) and monkey cola (Cola millenii K. Schum.). Samples of the wild fruit commonly consumed werecollected from some villages in Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria. The wild fruits were analysed for phytonutrients, antioxidants and mineral composition. Ranges of total phenolics and total anthocyanin content of these wild fruits were 27.78 ± 6.01 in I. gabonensis, 57.42 ± 4.47 in S. mombin, 121.29 ± 4.97 in C. millenii and 398.23 ± 0.00 in C. albidum respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in antinutrient, phytonutrient and mineral composition of C. albidum, I. gabonensis and C. millenii. The analysis of variance revealed that calcium and manganese contents of I. gabonensis were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of C. albidum and C. millenii. The antioxidants especially vitamin C content ranged from as low as 15.87 mg/100 g in C. albidum to as high as 204.86 mg/100 g in S. mombin. The values for total carotenoid ranged from 172.77 ìg/100 g (in C. millenii) to 1380.17 ìg/100 g (in C. albidum). The wild fruits are sources of phytonutrients, antioxidants such as vitamin C, total carotenoids and some minerals. Planting of the wild fruit trees or the incorporation in farming systems should thus be encouraged to increase production and availability to consumers and as industrial raw materials.Keywords: Wild fruits, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, Nigeria

Valorisation of human excreta for recovery of energy and high-value products : a mini-review

The current approach to managing waste is one of the major reasons for ecosystem imbalances. In many parts of the world, human excreta is indiscriminately dumped in the environment, leading to the entry of high concentrations of nutrients and pathogens. In urban sanitary systems, nutrients are often not recovered, but large amounts of natural resources (e.g. water) are used for treating wastes at the expense of the environment. These practices are unsuitable and pose risks to human health and the environment, as such current efforts are geared towards providing on-site sanitation and opportunities for nutrient and resource recovery. This mini-review summarises the efforts to valorise human waste and process routes for the recovery of value-added products. These involve a review of ecological sanitation, systems that safely collect and treat human waste in situ and advanced waste-to-energy systems to convert recovered materials to fuels, heat and/or electricity. Focus is given to low-cost technological solutions that offer ecological benefits and opportunities to recover useful products. The barriers and opportunities to the adoption of on-site sanitation and appropriate technologies are discussed, considering current limitations and potential benefits. There are opportunities to recover useful products from human wastes; however, further research is needed to ascertain the value and impact of recovered products