PROXIMATE, ELEMENTAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS OF THE PULP AND SEEDS OF Zizyphus lotus L. FROM MINNA METROPOLIS AND ITS ENVIRONS

Abstract

Fruits have been recognized for their good nutritional role and significance in deficiency prevention. Zizyphus Lotus L. (Chinese date or Chineses Jujube or common jujube) is one of the fruits commonly consumed within Minna metropolis and its immediate environs. The nutritional and anti-nutritional potentials of the pulp and seeds of this fruit were assessed using standard analytical methods of food analysis. The proximate analysis results revealed that the seeds had higher percentage values for crude protein (12.25±0.04 %), crude fat (8.90±0.05 %) and carbohydrate (61.06±0.73 %) than obtained for the pulp. However, pulp had higher percentage contents than seeds in moisture (26.66±0.01 %), ash (5.00±0.16 %) and in crude fibre (7.21±0.08 %). The energy values (kcal/100g) were 250.62±1.72 and 373.56±1.25 for the pulp and seeds respectively. The anti-nutritional contents (mg/100g) determined revealed higher oxalate, tannins and phytate contents of 0.25±0.12, 7.46±0.27 and 8764.63±0.16 respectively for seeds, while pulp had higher cyanide content of 557.40±0.38. The mineral composition of both the pulp and seed of jujube shows that potassium, magnesium and calcium were predominant and the fruit may be considered a good source of minerals. The results revealed that this fruit presents a high nutritional value and could be incorporated in both animal and human diets.