ABSTRACT

The proximate analysis of Tetrapluera tetraptera was carried out using standard procedure and the result of the analysis revealed the following, moisture 83.75±2.12, ash 12.75±2.12, crude protein 12.25±1.77, crude fibre 20.28±0.78, crude fat 5.57±0.65, carbohydrate 48.61±1.40, caloric value 29.53±5.24. the above result indicate that Tetrapluera tetraptera fruit is a good source of nutrient and is highly recommended for consumption by man.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGES

TITLE PAGE        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

CERTIFICATION           –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

DEDICATION      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT            –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

ABTRACT  –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         v

TABLE OF CONTENT   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         vi-ix

CHAPTER ONE 

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study –         –         –         –         –         –         1-3

1.2     Aim and Objectives of the Study         –         –         –         –         4

1.3     Scope and Limitation of the Study       –         –         –         –         4-5

1.4     Definition of Terms         –         –         –         –         –         –         5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW       –         –         –         –         –         6-7

2.1     Description of the Plant   –         –         –         –         –         –         7-9

2.2     Uses of the Plant    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         9

2.3     Edible Uses –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         9-10

2.4     Medicinal Uses      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         10-11

2.5     Other Uses   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         11

2.6     Pharmacological Activities of

Tetrapluera tetraptera Extracts           –         –         –         –         11

2.7     Proximate Composition   –         –         –         –         –         –         12-13

2.8     Crude Fibre –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         13-15

2.9     Crude Protein        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         16-17

2.10   Ash    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         18

2.11   Moisture      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         19-20

CHAPTER THREE      

3.0     MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1     Materials and Reagent     –         –         –         –         –         –         21

3.2     Collection of Sample       –         –         –         –         –         –         21

3.3     Preparation  and Digestion of the Sample      –         –         –         22

3.4     Proximate Analysis          –         –         –         –         –         –         22

3.4.1  Determination of Ash Content             –         –         –         –         22-23

3.4.2  Determination of Moisture Content     –         –         –         –         23-24

3.4.3  Determination of Crude Protein           –         –         –         –         24-25

3.4.4  Determination of Crude Fibre    –         –         –         –         –         25-26

3.4.5  Determination of crude Fat        –         –         –         –         –         26-27

3.4.6  Determination of Carbohydrate           –         –         –         –         27-28

2.4.7  Determination of Caloric Value           –         –         –         –         28

CHAPTER FOUR        

4.0     RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1     Result          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         29

4.2     Discussion   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         30-31

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION AND SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES

5.1     Conclusion  –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         32

5.2     Recommendation   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         32

5.3     Suggestion for Further Studies             –         –         –         –         33

References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Studies

Tetrapluera tetraptera is deciduous grows on the fringe of the west and central African rainforest zone (found in Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and countries from Gambia to Nigeria) and is at its best growing most luxuriantly in the rain forest, reaching 20-25m in light, with a girth of about 1.2-3m. it is found also throughout riverian forest, in the southern savannah woodland as well as in the forest outliners in the African plains. The stem bark is fairly smooth, greyish brown and thin. Leaves are sessile, glabrous or minutely hairy with a common stalk some 15-30cm long and slightly channeled on the upper phase. Fruit has been described as being persistent, hanging at the ends of branches on stout stalks 25cm long. The fruit appears green when still tender  but on maturity and ripening, it is shiny, glaborous, dark purple-brown some 15-25cm long by about 4-5cm broad (depending on the size).with four longitudinal, wing-like ridges are woody while the other two one soft and are used for foods, drinks and medicine , the small, black, hard and flat seeds are hidden in the pods.

Many developing countries of the world are endowed with vast resources of natural products. The priceless heritage which includes indigenous fruits has served as food and medicine by rural people for centuries. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of indigenous fruit species with high nutritional, medicine and economic importance to the society. One of these indigenous fruits is Aridan botanically name as Tetrapleura tetraptera (fruit) in Yoruba, belongs to Fabacaea family. It is common on the fringe of west African rainforest belt. Tress are widespread in the tropical Africa, in forest and at their best in rainforest (Streusel and Satman,  2000). Trace minerals interactions. It is a singled stemmed, robust, perennial tree of about 30m long. It is generally found in the low land forest and its fruits are green when tender, dark red-brown when fully ripe. The hard, heavy and reddish wood is used for forewood, building poles, pestles, tool handles and carvings. The economic and medicinal important of Aridan are many.

The fruits have been widely used in Nigeria fir manufacturing of seasoning spices, pomades and soaps due to its pleasant aroma characteristics (Essien et al., 1990; Okwu, 2004). While it is use in Ghana as vitamin. It is also commonly used in soups of nursing mothers to prevent post partum contractions (Nwany and Alah, 1996; Nwairu and Akali, 1996). An infusion of the whole fruits is usually taken by convalescents for bathing in order to be relief from feverish conditions for constipation and as an emetic, the soft parts of the fruit and the bark are known to contain sugars, tannins, traces of saponin and amino acids (Adesina et al., 1980). The plant has many traditional medicinal uses mainly in the management of convulsion, leprosy, inflammation and rheumatic pains. Infusion of the whol fruit can be taken as a secuperative tonic (Bouba et al., 2012). Proximate composition, mineral and vitamin contents of some wild plants used as spices in Cameroon due to the presence of caffeinic acid content in the fruits (Adesina et al., 1980). The fruit is reported to have anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory properties and also inhibit HIV replication.

1.2     Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to determine the proximate composition of Tetrapluera tetraptera fruit.

The objectives of this study is to determine the following:

1. Moisture content
2. Ash content
3. Crude protein content
4. Crude fibre content
5. Crude fat content
6. Carbohydrates content and
7. Caloric value

1.3     Scope and Limitation of the Study

The design of this research project is to investigate and determine the proximate analysis of Aridan. Due to time  and financial constraint, this research project is limited to the determination of proximate analysis of Aridan only.

1.4     Definition of Terms

Analysis: analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts in order to gain a better understanding of it.

Tetrapluera tetraptera : Tetrapluera tetraptera is a deciduous, grows on the fringe of the west and central African rainforest zone and countries from Ghana to Nigeria and is at its best growing luxuriantly in the rain forest, reaching 20-25m in weight with a girth of about 1.2-3m, it begins to flower by the middle and end of February till the early green fruits begin to appear.