Chemical composition and physical Properties of African Star Apple (chrysophyllum albidum)
Abstract
The proximate composition, mineral contents and chemical characteristics of different parts (the peel, pulp and juice) of the African star apple were determined by standard methods. Also, as a first step in developing processing for the fruits, some physical properties were studied. Result of the proximate composition showed that the juice component contained 69.9% moisture, 2.5% protein, 7.4% fat, 19.4% carbohydrate, 3.8% crude fibre, 15.6% Nitrogen free extract and 2.7% ash. The pulp and peel have higher protein contents 8.2 and 6.4%, fat contents14.3 and 12.1%, carbohydrate contents 68.2 and 64.1%, crude fibre 5.0 and 14.2%,respectively. The vitamin C of the juice was 49.4mg/100L and reducing sugar of 13.4%. The pH of juice was 3.3. The mineral contents of the fruit showed higher values in the peel than either in the pulp or juice. Mn and Fe are the main minerals in the juice and pulp. The physical characteristics of the fruits have values as follows: weight per fruit 31.1-57.1g; volume 25.0-48.0cm3; diameter of the base of fruit 4.2-5.2cm; height 4.3-5.2cm; surface area 58.9-72.7cm2. The seed constituted 24.1-27.8% of the weight of fruit while the pulp, peel and juice 52.5- 55.5%, 19.7-22.5% and 3.8-5.3%, respectively.
References
AOAV 1980. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 11th edition. P. Washington, D.C. Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
Bollard, J. 1970. Plant Biochemistry. 61-68pp, Academic Press, New York.
Duncan, D.B. 1955. Multiple range and F-tests. Biometrics. 11: pp 1-42.
Edet, E.E., Eka, O.A., Ifon, E.T. 1984, Chemical evaluation of nutritive value of seeds of African breadfruit (Trecula Africana) Food Chemistry 17: 41-7
Fetuga, B., Babatunde, G., Oyenuga, V. 1974. Composition and nutritive value of cashew nut to the rat. J. Agric Food Chemistry 22:678-682
Hulme, A.C. 1970. The Biochemistry of fruits and their product. A.C. Hulme(ed)
Academic Press, London.
Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J. M. 1963. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Crown Agent for Oversea Governments and Administration, London. 278pp
Inoh, P.G. Balogh, E., Ngoddy, P.O. 1977. Agbalumo pectin extraction properties. Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. Proceedings of the launching and first annual conference. Volume 5-7, pp 61-67.
Mortensen, E, Bullard, E.T. 1966. Hand book of Tropical and Sub-tropical Horticulture Agency for Internal Dev. Washington, D.C. pp 23-30.
Nwadinigwe, C.A. 1982. Nutritional value and mineral contents of Chrysophyllumalbidum fruit. J. Sci Food Agric 33: 283-286.
Oje, K., Ugbor, E.C. 1991. Some physical properties of oil bean seed. Journals of
Agric. Engineering Research 50:305-313.
Okafor, J.C. 1975. The place of wild (uncultivated) fruits and vegetables in the Nigerian diet. Proceedings, recommendations and papers of first national seminars on fruit and vegetables.
Ojehomon, O.O. Town, P.A and McLean, K. (Eds) pp 153-154. Ibadan, Nigeria.
Underwood, E.J. 1971. Trace elements in human and animal nutrition. 574pp. Academic Press, New York.
Wilson, E.D. Fisher, K.H., Fuqua, M.E. 1975. Principles of Nutrition. 167pp. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York.
