Proximate, Mineral Composition and Phytochemical Screening of Some Selected Spices of Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Southwest, Nigeria

Spices which are widely used in Southwest Nigeria have aroma, enhance taste of food and possess medicinal values. Proximate, mineral composition and phytochemical screening of ten randomly selected spices were carried out. Recommended procedures were used for the analyses. Mineral composition was determined using flame photometer, colorimeter and (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). The proximate composition showed that protein was high at 12.04% in Zingiber officinale and low at 2.1% in Xylopia aethiopica. Ocimium gratissium contained high moisture content at 82.1%, while Tetrapleura tetraptera had the least value of 3.5%. High ash content was recorded in Ocimum gratissium at 13.68% and lowest 0.98% in Allium cepa. For carbohydrate, Allium cepa had the highest value of 78.36%, while Allium setiva had the least value of 19.48%. Mineral composition showed high value of calcium 712 mg/100g, magnesium 172.2 mg/100g, potassium 868.5 mg/100g, sodium 75.85 mg/100g, and manganese 95.38 mg/100g in Allium sativa, Xylopia aethiopica, Momodara myristica, Ocimum gratissimum, Tetrapleura tetraptera respectively. Aframomium meleghueta had high value of iron and zinc at 85 mg/100g and 97 mg/100g respectively and also high presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins and tannis. High values of saponins and triterpenoids were observed in Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum respectively. This study showed that spices have greater use in medicine and as food supplement.