Nutritional Characteristics, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Study of Vaccinium parvifolium L. (Ericacea) Leaf Protein Concentrates (Published)
Problems associated with protein malnutrition are still prevalent in third-world countries, leading to a constant search for plants that could serve as nutrients and medicinal purposes. Huckleberry is one of the plants that has been proven useful locally in the treatment of numerous ailments and diseases. A fresh sample of the plant (Vaccinium pavifolium) was collected from a vegetable garden situated near the Erelu dam of the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Campus, Oyo. The sample was authenticated at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Ibadan. The leaves of the plant were plucked and processed for leaf protein concentrates before proximate composition, mineral analysis phytochemical and antimicrobial properties were determined using a standard method of analysis.The results of proximate constituents showed; moisture content; 9.89±0.051g/100g, Ash; 3.23±0.12g/100g, crude fat; 3.96±0.11g/100g and 61.27±0.56g/100g of Nitrogen free extractive. The mineral analysis of the sample showed; Mg; 0.081±0.00mg/100g, Ca; 42.30±0.05mg/100g, Na; 27.57±0.09mg/100g, K; 6.81±0.01mg/100g, P; 8.90±0.03mg/100g, Fe; 0.51±0.00mg/100g, Zn; 0.021±0.00mg/100g, Cd; 0.04±0.04mg/100g, Pb; 0.002±0.00mg/100g, Cr; 0.041±0.00mg/100g Cadmium and Mercury were not detected in the sample. The result of phytochemical analysis of leaf protein concentrates of the Huckleberry showed the presence of Alkaloid, Saponin, Flavonoid, Tanin, Coumarin, Steroids, Terpenoids, Cardiac glycosides, Glycosides, Quinones, Anthocyanin, phytosterols, and phenols. Ethanolic extracts of the Vaccinium parvifolium L. leaf protein concentrates showed that it contains bioactive compounds that are capable of combating the following microorganisms; Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebisialae pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis. The results of the analysis of Vaccinium parvifolium L. leaf protein concentrates showed that the sample contains valuable nutrient and mineral constituents, and phytochemical compounds that could make the sample useful for medicinal activities.
Keywords: Antimicrobial properties, Nutritional Assessment, leaf protein concentrates., mineral composition, phytochemical analysis, vaccinium parvifolium
Nutritional Assessment of Precooked Flour Formulated From Corn (Zea Mays), Soybean (Glycine Max) and Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea) Flours Consumed In Côte D’ivoire (Published)
The purpose of this study was to enrich corn flour with soybean and peanut flour in order to formulate an enriched feed for children of weaning age. To do this, an enriched corn flour has been formulated by adding to corn flour, soybean and peanut flours. The flour thus composed was characterized physically and biochemically. Then, a growth and biometric study was conducted to evaluate the effect of enriched corn flour on young rats of Wistar strain in growing. The results of the physicochemical and biochemical study give contents in dry matter, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate and energetic value of 89.44 ± 0.13, 17.85 ± 0.11%, 5.83 ± 1.72%, 1.85 ± 0.03 %, 62.31 ± 0.01% and 442.99 ± 0.05 Kcal / 100g respectively for enriched corn flour. The effect of compound meal on young rats gives the growth level for weight gain, feed efficiency, apparent digestibility, true digestibility, and biological value values of 2.91 ± 0.59 g / j, 0.33 ± 0.07, 86.45 ± 0.31%, 94.28 ± 0.13% 84.27 ± 0.37% respectively. At the level of the biometric study no abnormality was observed at the level of the regulating organs which are the kidneys, the liver, the heart and the spleen compared to the control diet. Nutritional assessment results showing better performance at the 5% threshold for the different nutritional parameters show that enriched corn meal could have a positive impact on children’s health and prevent the occurrence of illness such as kwashiorkor due to malnutrition. In addition, the fact that the nutritional parameters comply with the standards required shows that this food could be industrialized to facilitate its accessibility by all layers of society.
Keywords: Enriched Corn Meal, Formulation, Malnutrition, Nutritional Assessment, Peanut, soybean