TITLE:
Comparative Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition of Trichosanthes cucumerina (L.) and Some Solanum lycopersicum (L.) Cultivars in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Clementina Chekwube Ugbaja, Oluwasegun Olamide Fawibe, Abiodun Sunday Oyelakin, Idris Olatoye Fadimu, Abiodun Akeem Ajiboye, David Adejare Agboola
KEYWORDS:
Underutilized Vegetable, Comparison, Phytochemical, Nutrition, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.2,
January
23,
2017
ABSTRACT: The phytochemical and nutritional
composition of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. an underutilized vegetable used as substitute for
Solanaceous tomatoes by rural dwellers was examined in comparison with majorly cultivated
tomato cultivars in Nigeria (Roma VF and Ibadan local). The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina was higher in carotenoid
(2053.33
mg/100g), flavonoid (861.67 mg/100g), cardiac glycoside (11.67 mg/100g), alkaloids (93.33 mg/100g), lycopene (118.5 μg/100g), tannin (555.00 mg/100g), oxalate (2.55 mg/100g) and quercetin (5.25 mg/100g) than Roma VF and Ibadan local. However, Roma
VF had the highest concentration of saponin (66.67 mg/100g) but there was no significant difference in steroid
among the fruits. The Vitamins A, E and C contents of T. cucumerina (5346 μg/100g, 6.23 μg/100g and 25.33 μg/100g) were significantly higher (P S. lycopersicum. T. cucumerina had the highest values of crude protein and crude lipid (1.97% and 0.40%).
The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina also had the highest ash and total carbohydrate contents (1.63% and 16.50%). Roma VF was significantly higher in crude fibre and moisture
contents (1.77% and 89.40%) than other vegetables investigated. All the evaluated
mineral elements (Na, K, Ca Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, P and S) in T. cucumerina compared favourably
with S. lycopersicum cultivars. It was observed that T. cucumerina pulp contained an appreciable number of nutrients and secondary metabolites which qualify it as a good substitute
to S.lycopersicum.