ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA ...

2.1 Introduction
CHAPTER 2
GENERAL CONCLUSION
The mass production ofhighly refined foods has tended to overshadow traditional foods
which in many ways are more nutritious. In search for solutions to problems of food
insecurity in developing countries, there is need to re-examine the role ofthese traditional
foods. Amadumbe is widely grown in the sub-tropical parts of South Africa. The locally
developed cu1tivars are commonly used as staple foods in the Kwazulu-Natal province,
South Africa. When any crop is being considered as a food source the nutritional value is
of utmost importance. The nutritional and anti-nutritional evaluation of unprocessed and
processed Arnadumbe tubers revealed the following:
2.2 Nutritional and anti-nutritional evaluation
Proximate analysis showed Arnadumbe to be highly nutritious with high carbohydrate,
adequate protein and low lipid content Amadwnbe was also shown to contain essential fatty
acids in the form of linoleic and linolenic acid. The tubers are generally low in mineral
content except for potassinm and magnesium.
Even though anti-nutritional substances were found in unprocessed Arnadumbe, domestic
processing (boiling, frying, roasting), were observed to effectively reduce the content of
the anti-nutrients Boiling was the most effective method to decrease the levels of anti­
nutrients. Zululand Colocasia esculenta can therefore be used as food material for humans
but tubers should be processed properly to not pose a long-term health problem in
humans.
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