Comparative Analysis of Phytochemicals Screening, Proximate and Elemental Analysis of Anacardium occidentale L. Nuts and Carica papaya Seeds

Aims: The aim of this study was comparative analysis of phytochemicals screening, proximate and elemental analysis of Anacardium occidentale L nut and Carica papaya seeds extracts.

Study Design: The samples were cleaned, washed with water, dried, and grinded with a laboratory mortar and pestle, packed in an air tight container and stored ready for further analysis.

Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted at the Chevron Biotechnology Centre, Modibbo Adamawa University of Yola, Nigeria which lasted for about three months.

Methodology: The nuts were manually separated from fruit pulp, cleaned, washed with water, dried, roasted and grinded with a laboratory mortar and pestle, packed in an air tight container and stored ready for further analysis.

Results: The result of Anacardium occidentale L nut phytochemicals screening showed that with Glycosides (-), Tannins (+), flavonoids(+++), Alkaloids(++), Saponins(-) and the proximate composition (%) were as follows: moisture content (9.7 ± 0.2), ash content (3.46±0.3), crude fat (26.79± 0.5), crude protein (14.26 ± 0.01) carbohydrate (by difference) (45.78± 0.01) Calorific (Energy) value 482.00 Kcal. The mineral analysis (mg/100g) revealed that magnesium (3.50 ± 0.01), Manganese (2.00 ± 0.01), Nickel (3.22 ± 0.01) and Cobalt (0.13 ±0.01) while the phytochemical screening for Carica papaya seeds extracts also showed Glycosides (+), Tannins (++), flavonoids(++), Alkaloids(++), Saponins(-) for the moisture content (8.59 ± 0.3), ash content (4.09±0.16), crude fat (15.60± 0.2), crude protein (15.84 ± 0.01) carbohydrate (by difference) (41.63) Calorific (Energy) value 1549.25 Kcal. The mineral analysis (mg/100g) revealed that magnesium (3.02 ± 0.02), Manganese (0.22 ± 0.01), Nickel (3.41 ± 0.01) and Cobalt (0.18 ± 0.01).

Conclusion: The study therefore indicates that the Anacardium occidentale L nut and Carica may not provide all the nutrients required by human in the right proportion though it contains an appreciable quantity of some essential nutrients like Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrate and some minerals.