Nutrient Composition, Mineral and Anti-Nutrient Components of Processed Wild Cocoyam (Caladium Bicolor, (Ait) Vent)

Abstract

In the subtropic and perhaps worldwide a novel plant Caladium bicolor (wild cocoyam, Ikpong Ekpo) has not actually been utilized as food for man, livestock or poultry, though in abundance. Also, the effective utilization of wild cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) tubers in livestock and poultry feed is limited by the presence of anti-nutrient components which requires some form of processing. The effect of boiling and soaking on gross energy, mineral composition, anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) and proximate composition of wild cocoyam (Caladium bicolor (Ait), Vent) were determined with the aim of investigating its suitability as a feed ingredient. The soaked, raw and boiled tubers were dried, milled and analyzed for chemical compositions. Crude protein contents of raw and processed Caladium bicolor tubers range were 7.58% - 8.28% and the crude fibre values ranged between1.92 - 2.12%. The gross energy value of boiled Caladium bicolor tubers was higher (2.85kcal/g) and also statistically similar (p>0.05) to both raw and soaked Caladium bicolor tubers. The micro and macro mineral composition of boiled Caladium bicolor tubers was significantly (p<0.05) lower compared to soaking method. Values obtained for boiled Caladium bicolor tubers were significantly (p<0.05) lower in all the toxic substances determined, except for the HCN content being above the tolerable limit for ruminant animals. The results indicate that processing techniques adopted enhanced the proximate composition, caloric components, mineral contents and significantly (p>0.05) lowered in the level of anti-nutrients present in wild cocoyam (Caladium bicolor (Ait). Vent) tubers with boiling being the best and hence the recommended processing method for use in detoxifying C. bicolor.