Nutritional Characteristics of Four Underutilized Edible Wild Fruits of Dietary Interest in Ghana

Malnutrition has been a serious issue in Ghana and Africa as a whole. However, the potential of many indigenous fruits to combat it has not yet been tested. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional characteristics of four underutilized wild fruits (<i>Gardenia</i> <i&g...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matthew Atongbiik Achaglinkame, Ruth Olaide Aderibigbe, Oliver Hensel, Barbara Sturm, Joseph Kudadam Korese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/8/3/104
Description
Summary:Malnutrition has been a serious issue in Ghana and Africa as a whole. However, the potential of many indigenous fruits to combat it has not yet been tested. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional characteristics of four underutilized wild fruits (<i>Gardenia</i> <i>erubescens</i>, <i>Sclerocarya birrea, Diospyros mespiliformis</i>, and <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i>) of dietary interest in Ghana. The nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of the fruits were analyzed according to standard methods (laid down by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists and other well-known researchers) on a dry weight (dw) basis. The nutritional value of the fruits was high enough to contribute to the nutrient requirements of humans, with their iron (0.34&#8211;1.46 mg/100 g), zinc (0.81&#8211;2.97 mg/100 g), vitamin A (0.84&#8211;2.03 mg/100 g), and &#946;-carotene (64.84&#8211;176.89 mg/100 g) contents worth special mention. The antinutrient content also ranged between 0.06&#8211;1.82 mg/g. Therefore, it is evident from the study that the fruits, although containing some levels of antinutrients, are nutrient-dense, suggesting their potency in fighting malnutrition in humans.
ISSN:2304-8158