Proximate composition, mineral and some vitamin contents of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus)

Abstract

Fresh Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) was investigated for its proximate and mineral composition using the various methods described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC), 2010. Vitamin A and C contents were determined by the methods described by Rutkowsi et al and Rahman et al., respectively. The proximate analysis of 100 g of fresh tigernut revealed that moisture content has the highest value followed by carbohydrate, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein, and lowest ash content. The outcome of the mineral analysis showed the highest value of potassium (K), followed by phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) sodium (Na), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and lowest copper (Cu) content. The result also showed that tigernut contains high levels of vitamin C than A. This result implies that this edible tuber which has been underutilized in the world can go a long way in providing most of the nutrients needed for life and can be used as supplement in the treatment of diseases that are caused primarily by deficiencies of minerals and vitamins.