ANTINUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF Securidaca longepedunculata (VIOLET TREE)
ABSTRACT
The antinutritional composition of leaves and stem bark s. longepedunculata were investigated using standard analytical methods.The leafs and stem bark of S. longepedunculata was air dried and the sample was pulverized for the determination of anti-nutritive contents. The antinutritional continents viz phytate, oxalate, nitrate and cyanide were determined in this investigation. Nitrate content was significantly (p<0.001) found to be abundant in both the leafs and stem bark followed by cyanide (p<0.01). Phytate and oxalate were found to be non-significant (p>0.05) in both the leafs and stem bark. In conclusion, the result of the present study shows that both the leafs and stem bark can be consumed without any restriction. However, consumption in large amount with higher level of these anti-nutrients should be avoided.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Plants commonly synthesized a range of secondary metabolites as part of their protection against attack by herbivores, insects and pathogen or as a means to survive in adverse growing conditions. If farm or domestic animals or humans consume these plants, these compounds may cause adverse physiological effects. The terms anti nutritional or natural toxicant have been widely employed or describe plant defense metabolites in the food and nutrition literature. The observed biological effects very greatly, depending upon the structures of the individual compound, which can range from high molecular weight proteins to simple amino acids and oligosaccharides (Khokhar and Apenten, 2006).
Antinutritional factors are those substances found in most food substance which are poisonous to humans or in some ways limit the nutrient availability to the body. Plant evolved these substances to protect them and prevent them from being eaten. However, if the diet is not varied, some of this toxin builds up in the body to harmful levels (Norman and Petter 1987).
Anti-nutritional factors are present in different food substances in varying amounts, defending on kind of food, mode of its propagation, chemicals used in