Journal Article

Concentrations of Antinutrients and Toxic Substances in the Pulp of Vitellaria paradoxa fruit obtained from the different Geopolitical Zones of Niger State

Abstract

The chemical contents and compositions of plants are generally influenced by environmental factors where they are grown, it is against this background the present research is designed to evaluate the concentrations of some antinutrients and toxic substances (saponin, tannin, oxalate, phytate, cyanide and nitrate) in the pulp of the fruits of Vitellaria paradoxa obtained from the three different geopolitical zones in Niger State. The fresh fruits of V. paradoxa were obtained from three Local Government Areas from each zone; Zone A (Mokwa, Bida and Lapai), Zone B (Suleja, Kuta and Kpaiko), Zone C (Kotongora, Wushishi and New Bussa) and used for the analysis. The concentrations of nitrate, saponin and tannin were analysed by spectrophotometric method while the concentrations of phytate and oxalate were done by the titrimetric method. The results showed that the concentrations of saponin in the pulp of the fruits from zone B and C did not differ significantly from each other, however, the concentration of the parameter from these zones was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of zone A. Similarly, the concentration of tannin in the pulp of the V.paradoxa in Zone B and C were not significantly different from each other, however, its concentration in the fruit pulp from zone A was significantly higher (p < 0.05) when compared with those of zone B and C. Whereas the oxalate content in the fruit pulp from zone B was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those obtained of zone A and C, the phytate content in zone C was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those from zone A and B. The cyanide content in fruit pulp from zone A and C did not differ significantly from each other; however, its content in the fruit pulp of V. paradoxa from these zones was significantly lower when compared with zone B. The significant order of increased concentrations of nitrate in the pulp of V. paradoxa fruits obtained from the three geopolitical zones of Niger State was zone A > zone B > zone C. The study concludes that the pulp of the fruits of V.paradoxa from the three geopolitical zones of Niger State bioaccumulates various concentrations of the antinutrients and toxic substances evaluated.

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