EVALUATION OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT CONSTITUENTS, NUTRITIONAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL QUALITIES OF AVOCADO, CUCUMBER AND DATE FRUITS
Keywords:
proximate analysis, plant-derived supplements, health benefits, antioxidant activity, mineralsAbstract
Fruits constitute an essential component of human nutrition, providing health benefits and potentially mitigating various ailments. This study investigated the nutritional and anti-nutritional qualities, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical contents of three commercially important fruits: Avocado, Cucumber and Date. Standard methods were employed for proximate analysis, mineral composition determination and phytochemical assays. Significant variations were observed in nutritional composition among the three fruits: Avocado exhibited the highest carbohydrate content of 10.38 ± 0.01%. Crude protein and fibre contents were also highest in Avocado at 2.21 ± 0.02 % and 2.32± 0.03 %, respectively. Antioxidants activities, assessed via DPPH and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), were also highest in Avocado (88.98 ± 0.19% and 78.90 ± 0.32%, respectively) followed by Cucumber (87.99 ± 0.69% and 76.36 ± 0.22%, respectively). Date had the least antioxidant activity at 68.54 ± 0.39% and 59.21 ± 0.06%. Anti-nutritional factors were minimal, with negligible levels of oxalates and phytates while tannins were not detected in all the fruits. Phytochemicals detected in the three fruits were most abundant in flavonoids and alkaloids and were within the range of 0.22 ± 0.001 to 0.25± 0.001%. Glycosides and total phenol contents were highest in Date. Saponin content was similar in concentration in all the three fruits, while chalcones were not detected in any of the fruits. Date had the highest amount of the minerals, with the potassium concentration of 4320.94 ± 0.62 mg/kg, sodium (1619.29 ± 0.84 mg/kg), and calcium (530.47 ± 0.56 mg/kg). The fruits are rich in valuable complementary nutrients which are beneficial to humans.
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