THE MINERAL COMPOSITION OF SOURSOP (ANNOMA MURICATA L.)

ABSTRACT

 This study was carried out to investigate Annona muricata fruit for its phytochemicals, antioxidant activities and mineral composition.A 4x3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design (CRD) was used. The samples were collected from three (3) locations across 3 geopolitical zones of Edo state, namely Isihor (Edo south), Emu (Edo Central) and Ikabigbo-uzaire (Edo north). The samples collected were the fruits, leaves and stems of Anonna muricata (soursop). The determination of mineral contents was carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometer  for calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc; flame photometer was used to determine sodium, potassium and spectrophotometerwas used for phosphorus using methods described by the association of official agricultural chemists  and determination of phosphorus (P) was by spectrophotometry). There was also variations in the pulp, leaf, peel and stem in all three locations. These variations may be due to differences in cultivars, agronomic practices, edaphic and climatic factors.In this study, iron was the most abundant mineral in the Soursop with stem having the highest iron content (56.87mg/kg) and pulp having higher iron content (53.17mg/kg) than the peel(46.48mg/kg).The neglected parts of the annona muricata (peel, stem and leaf) exhibited significant mineral compositions which make them essential dietary mineral sources. This study reported the concentration of mineral nutrients in soursop of three different locations in Edo state. The result showed that the plant tissues are a rich source of the minerals studied, but in different quantities due to different agronomic factors present in the different locations.