Minerals and Phytochemical Compositions of Xanthosoma Mafafa Tuber Meal Treated With Varying Levels of Palm Bunch Ash Solution

Abstract

Varying concentrations of palm bunch ash solutions (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 g/100ml water) were used to blanch cocoyam (Xanthosoma mafafa) tuber meal (XMTM) at 100oC for three minutes and its minerals and phytochemical compositionswere determined. The mineral composition results generally increased due to palm bunch ash solution treatment, with values increasing with increasing ash solution concentration as Potassium composition was found to be the most present mineral in the samples.The phytochemical composition values were reduced by the ash solution treatment (p<0.05). Tannin, phenol, and trypsin inhibitor values decreased with increasing ash solution treatment, while the reverse was the case for cyanide, alkaloids and phytate values. It was concluded that blanching with palm bunch ash solutions improves the mineralcomposition of XMTM and also reduced the phytochemical anti-nutrients present in XMTM and it is recommended to include the sample material for feed formulation by the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) as areplacement for maize.