Immune Boosting Micronutrients in Seeds of Uziza (piper Guineense), Ehuru (aframonum Melegueta), Uda (monodora Myristica) and Aidan Fruit (tetrapluera Tetrapetra)

Student: Godsgift Ifunanya Amarah (Project, 2025)
Department of Food Science and Technology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State


Abstract

ABSTRACT
This study determined the content of immune boosting micronutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, selenium, Lauric acid, vitamin A, B9, C, and E, in Piper guineense (uziza), Aframonum melegueta (uda), Monodora myristica (ehuru), and Tetrapleura tetraptera (aidan fruit), using standard procedures. The sample with the highest amount of micronutrients was subjected to proximate analysis. The iron, zinc, calcium and selenium contents ranged from, 2.29 - 3.82mg/g, 0.32 - 0.59mg/g, 48.61 - 54.17mg/g, 0.10 - 0.26mg/g respectively. The vitamin A, vitamin B9, vitamin C, vitamin E and lauric acid content ranged from, 144.25 - 164.25mcg RAE/g, 3.70 - 4.90mcg/g, 20.60 - 32.30mg/g, 0.19 - 0.31mg/g, 0.12 - 0.25ug/g respectively. Piper guineense (uziza) had the highest amount of immune boosting micronutrients. Its proximate composition was 9.25%, 5.49%, 14.21% - 11.53%, 9.64%, 11.83%, 52.30% for crude protein, ash, moisture, crude fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate contents respectively.

Keywords
immune boosting micronutrients seeds uziza ehuru uda and aidan fruit