Evaluation of the Phytochemical and Proximate Composition of Fruit of False Yam (Icacina senegalensis) and African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum)

Abstract

The biochemical composition of the seed, fruit-pulp and fruit-skin of false yam and African star apple was carried out in this study using standard techniques. The result of the mean phytochemical composition of Icacina senegalensis and Chrysophyllum albidum fruits revealed higher composition of tannin in the pulp, seed of I. senegalensis, while alkaloid and flavonoid was higher in composition in the pulp (24.22±0.141mg/100g and 16.53±0.021mg/100g), seed (25.35± 0.021mg/100g and 18.27±0.014mg/100g)and bark (24.62±0.085mg/100g and 16.94± 0.035 mg/100g) of Chrysophyllum albidum. The results were significantly different at p<0.05. The result of the percentage proximate composition of Icacina senegalensis and Chrysophyllum albidum fruits revealed higher percentage composition of carbohydrate in the pulp (51.52±0.127% and 57.02±0.141%), seed (52.42±0.085% and 56.1±0.198%) and bark (54.89±0.092% and 58.02±0.113%) of I. senegalensis and C. albidum. The result revealed high percentage composition of fat in the pulp (26.33±0.028% and 9.63±0.028%), seed (25.69±0.014% and 10.24±0.035%) and bark (23.14±0.028% and 9.28±0.071%) of I. senegalensis and C. albidum respectively.  Moisture content was also high in the pulp (12.37±0.014% and 8.35±0.042%), seed (11.45±0.021% and 7.36±0.042%) and bark (11.13±0.014% and 5.23±0.028%) of I. senegalensis and C. albidum respectively. The result of the mean mineral composition of Icacina senegalensis and Chrysophyllum albidum fruits revealed high composition of calcium in the pulp, seed and bark of I. senegalensis and C. albidum respectively. The result also revealed high composition of magnesium in the pulp, seed and bark of I. senegalensis and C. albidum.  The results from this work suggest that Icacina senegalensis and Chrysophyllum albidum may find their use in food/feed formulation/supplementation as well as nutraceutical/medicinal and industrial uses.