Nutritional and anti-nutritional evaluation of ten genotypes of pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.) grown in a derived savanna ecology of Nigeria

Abstract

The selection of pepper genotypes for high yield could be exploited together with high nutritional content and considerable secondary metabolite level. The present study was aimed at evaluating the nutrient and anti-nutrient compositions of ten genotypes of pepper through laboratory assessment. According to the nutrients analyzed, total carotenoid content ranged from 6 - 34 mg / 100 g, β -carotene from 4 – 7 mg / 100 g and ascorbic acid from 83 - 100 mg/ 100g. Most parameters evaluated varied significantly. Moisture content ranged from 84.2% to 77.4%, ash content from 1.5% to 0.8%, protein from 7.5% to 4.6%, fat from 2.7% to 1.8% and fiber from 11.7% to 6.2%. Results also showed that mineral content had the following range: Na with 0.31 – 0.82 mg/ 100 g, K with 24.50 – 40.70 mg/ 100 g, Zn with 21.11 – 26.31 mg/ 100 g, Fe with 0.41 – 0.65 mg/ 100 g and Ca with 5.96 – 121.98 mg/ 100 g. The antinutrients analyzed were also found to be present in varied concentrations across the pepper genotypes. All the genotypes evaluated had values to supply sufficient vitamin A and β– carotene for daily recommendations.