Abstract

Phytochemical, Vitamins and Toxic level of processed Cocoyam inflorescence were determined. Samples of cocoyam inflorescence were processed by blanching, soaking, Boiling, sun drying, and oven drying. Fresh sample of Cocoyam inflorescence was analyzed and stands as the control. All the chemical analysis was determined, using standard analytical method. Processing methods caused significant (p<0.05) reduction on the Vitamins, phytochemical composition and toxic components of cocoyam inflorescence. Pro vitamin A content of fresh sample was 348.91µg/dl while Vit. E, B2 and C were 16.82, 12.59 and 27.21 mg/100g respectively. The fresh sample showed 114.01, 586, 1.52, 36.07, 254.24, 32.27 and 32.87% respectively for flavonoid, carotenoid, phenol, oxalate, steroid, phytate and alkaloid contents. Water blanching and oven drying showed significantly (p<0.05) reduction in Vit. E, B2, C and pro vit A by 83.5, 79.1, 98.6 and 95% respectively. Boiling and sun drying caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in alkaloid, flavonoid, carotenoid, saponin, phenol, oxalate, steroids, phytate and tannin content by 95.8, 83.2, 94.4, 74.6, 45.4, 43.1, 87.2 and 97.8% respectively. These results showed that fresh Cocoyam inflorescence contains appreciable amount of vitamins with moderate level of phytochemicals. The highest dosage of 5000 mg/kg body weight of cocoyam inflorescence extract had no significant (p<0.05) toxic effect on the tested animals. Petroleum ether extract showed the presence of rich variety of the secondary metabolites. Boiling with sun drying showed higher losses of vitamins and phytochemical composition of Cocoyam inflorescence while boiling with oven drying showed better retention of these bioactive components in Cocoyam inflorescence.

Keywords

cocoyam inflorescence, vitamins, flavonoid, carotenoid