Evaluation of Nutritional and Phytochemical Profiles of Garcinia manni Oliv. Used as Chewing Ntick in Mbiama, River State

Abstract

This study evaluated the mineral element, proximate, and phytochemical composition of Garcinia manni used as chewing sticks in Mbiama, Ahoada Local Government Area, River State, Nigeria. This species was rich in minerals in stem segments in sequence from the highest proportion as follows: potassium (3.54±0.30mg/100g), calcium (3.23±0.20 mg/100g), magnesium (2.42±0.84 mg/100 g), sodium (2.30±0.25 mg/100 g), phosphorus (1.04±0.70mg/100g), zinc (0.31±0.03 mg/100 g), iron (0.21±0.09 mg/100 g), manganese (0.04±0.06 mg/100g), and copper (0.03±0.02 mg/100g). Proximate composition analysis revealed rich proportions of food materials in stem segments of the test plant in sequence from the highest proportion as follows: carbohydrate (84.90± 0.41%), crude fat (4.66±0.70%), moisture (3.18±0.11%), crude protein (3.31±0.30%), crude fibre (2.23±0.60%) and crude ash (1.73±0.42%). Phytochemical analysis showed considerable levels of bioactive substances in stem segments of the test plant in sequence from the highest proportion as follows: tannin (7.22±0.42%), alkaloid (2.02±0.40%), saponin (1.70±0.32%), phytate (0.05±0.02%) and oxalate (0.04±0.01%). This study revealed that G. manni are a potential source of nutritional and medicinal value for oral health maintenance and industrial purposes.