14.06.2013 Views

ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA ...

ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA ...

ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

SECTION A<br />

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND SOME <strong>ANTI</strong>­<br />

NUTRIENTS IN PROCESSED AND UNPROCESSED<br />

<strong>COLOCASIA</strong> <strong>ESCULENTA</strong><br />

SUMMARY<br />

Amadumbe (Colocasia esculenta) is widely grown in the subtropical parts ofSouth Africa<br />

as a subsistence crop. Like most root crops, Amadumbe is high in carbohydrate content<br />

with low levels of protein and lipids. Amadumbe contain some essential fatty acids.<br />

Preliminary screening of Amadmnbe revealed the presence of some anti-nutrients<br />

(substances in food ofplant origin that interfere directly with the absorption ofnutrients).<br />

Processing (boiling, frying and roasting) ofAmadumbe showed a reduction in the content<br />

of these anti-nutritional factors (amylase inhibitor, trypsin inhibitor, oxalate, alkaloids,<br />

saponin, phytate and total phenols). Ofthe three different treatments, boiling appeared to<br />

be the most effective in reducing levels of all the investigated anti-nutrients in the white<br />

variety ofAmadmnbe. Any ofthe domestic processes used in this research work could be<br />

employed detoxifying most of the investigated anti-nutritional factors in Colocasia<br />

esculenta.<br />

3

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!