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Sep 3, 2019Keywords:
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Main Article Content
A comparative study of the phytochemical constituents, proximate and mineral compositions of <i>Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Aframomum sceptrum and Monodora myristica</i>
Abstract
The phytochemical, proximate and mineral compositions of Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Aframomum sceptrum (Bear berry) and Monodora myristica (African nutmeg) were investigated. Standard qualitative phytochemical screening, proximate and mineral analyses of the samples were carried out using in vitro methods. The results showed that both the Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa had similar phytochemical constituents while Aframomum sceptrum and Monodora myristica showing slight variation. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols were highly positive (+++) in all samples studied but Z. officinale and C. longa showed higher contents of glycosides, tannins, saponins and anthraquinones than A. sceptrum and M. myristica. Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, moisture and carbohydrate contents of A. sceptrum and M. myristica were similar (10.23 -10.58%, 3.17 – 3.19%, 20.40 – 20.45%, 48.76 – 49.56%, 8.72 – 8.81% and 8.72 – 7.41%) respectively and much higher than the values obtained from Z. officinale and C. longa (5.47 -5.55%, 2.05 – 2.03%, 10.39 – 10.36%, 5.99 – 5.87%, 55.62 – 55.84% and 20.48 – 20.35%). Values of mineral compositions observed in all samples were relatively high with those of A. sceptrum and M. myristica being 50% higher than Z. officinale and C. longa with the exception of sodium which was similar in all samples studied (0.27 – 0.28 mg/100g).
Keywords: Phytochemical constituents, proximate and mineral compositions, Z. officinale, C. longa, A. sceptrum and M. myristica
