Edem, CA; Dosunmu, MI; Ebong, AC; Jones, M
The proximate composition, ascorbic acid and heavy metal contents of Averrhoa carambola obtained in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, were evaluated using chemical analysis. The results of the proximate composition analysis showed that the unripe star fruit had the following composition; moisture (92.5%), carbohydrate (74.5%), crude fibre (10%), crude protein (7.9%), crude fat (3.5%) and ash (40%). It also contained 23 mg/100 ml of ascorbic acid. On the other hand, the ripe star fruit contained: moisture (85.1%), carbohydrate (72.2%), crude fibre (8.6%), crude protein (40%), crude fat (11.7%), ash (3.5%) and ascorbic acid (4.6 mg/100 ml). The heavy metal contents in the unripe star fruit were lead (3.00 ppm), chromium (0.45 ppm) and copper (0.085 ppm), while the ripe fruit had lead (1.00 ppm) and chromium (0.42 ppm). The concentrations of copper, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and zinc in the ripe fruit were not detectable so were the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and zinc in the unripe star fruit. The lead and chromium concentrations in both the unripe and ripe fruits were above the WHO (1991) permissible level of 0.005 and 0.05 ppm, respectively. It is concluded that unripe star fruits are reasonably good sources of ascorbic acid, carbohydrate and crude fibre and have a moderate amount of crude protein with very low level of fat, as compared to the ripe star fruits. However, the high concentrations of lead and chromium in both unripe and ripe fruits make the star fruit unfit for consumption.
ascorbic acid; carambolas; carbohydrates; chemical composition; chromium; copper; crude fibre; crude protein; fat; fruit; heavy metals; lead; moisture content; nutritive value; proximate analysis; toxic substances; Nigeria; Averrhoa carambola; Averrhoa; Oxalidaceae; Geraniales; dicotyledons; angiosperms; Spermatophyta; plants; eukaryotes; West Africa; Africa South of Sahara; Africa; Developing Countries; ACP Countries; Commonwealth of Nations; Anglophone Africa; crude fiber; nutritional value; poisons; quality for nutrition; saccharides; vitamin C; Crop Produce (QQ050); Food Contamination, Residues and Toxicology (QQ200); Food Composition and Quality (QQ500); Human Toxicology and Poisoning (VV810) (New March 2000)