International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development
April 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2
ISSN: 2226-6348
Nutritional Assessments Of Musa Paradisiacal (Plantain)
And Dioscorea Alata (Water Yam) Harvested Within
Abia State Of Nigeria
Agwu, Akuagwu
Department of Chemistry, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba
e-mail: aakenndemics2@yahoo.com
Avoaja, A.G.I
Department of Chemistry, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba
Abstract
The nutritive values (proteins, carbohydrate, fat, moisture, crude fiber, ash) and the mineral
(Magnesium, calcium, Iron, sodium and potassium) composition of Musa paradisiaca (Plantain)
and Dioscorea alata (water yam) were assessed to determine if they were good food sources of
nutrients and mineral elements needed for proper body function, and also to ascertain whether
they could be used alternatively and/or as an adjunct to one another. All the parameters were
determined using accepted standard methods. The result indicates that both Musa paradisiaca
and Dioscorea alata contain high nutrient and mineral levels. The protein content of 2.70% for
Musa paradisiaca was higher than that of Dioscorea alata of 2.45%; total and available
carbohydrate values of 35.70% and 34.40% respectively for Musa paradisiaca are also higher
than the values of 29.35% and 27.95% respectively recorded for Dioscorea alata. Mean fat and
crude fiber values of 1.30% and 2.30% in Musa paradisiaca while their corresponding values in
Dioscorea alata are 0.30% and 1.40% respectively. The calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and
potassium values are respectively 37.56, 24.14, 1.03, 225.0 and 456.5mg’s for Musa
paradisiaca; and 37.67, 16.63, 1.03, 225.0 and 323.0mg’s respectively for Dioscorea alata.
These results show that both Musa paradisiaca and Dioscorea alata can make significant
nutritional contribution to human diet and they can both be used as an alternative/or as an
adjunct to each other considering their comparable nutritional values.
Keywords: Nutritive values, mineral composition, Musa paradisiaca, Dioscorea alata, diet
Introduction
The maintenance of man’s optimal health and development is dependent on the kinds of food
consumed (Gordon, 2007). Good health is achieved by the proper selection of foods that will
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International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development
April 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2
ISSN: 2226-6348
provide the nutrients and minerals elements required for the proper functioning of the human
body.
Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) is a staple food crop in this part of Africa and also a major source of
energy for millions of people in Africa (Rich, 2010). And seems it is worldly rated than other
food crops because of its comparative role for health maintenance as a result of the high fiber
contents, low glycemic index and complex carbohydrates which metabolizes slowly into the
blood stream (Fachmann et al., 1990). Musa Paradisiaca does not significantly increase the
blood glucose level and is therefore recommended for the management of diabetes and
obesity.
Plantain can be prepared in different ways. It can be eaten boiled, roasted, fried, to make
plantain puddy and even as plantain chips (Booth et al., 1992).
Dioscorea alata (water yam) seems unnoticed when compared to the other varieties of yam. It
is seen as food for the poor and has played a minor role in international trade, unlike Musa
paradisiaca, there is limited knowledge of its health benefits and also its exploitation as source
of nutrients and mineral elements (Wilfred, 1999). Dioscorea alata (water yam) is a good source
of Vitamin B6, and is needed by the body to break down substances called homocystein which
can directly damage blood vessel walls, hence reducing the risk of heart disease. D. alata is also
a good source of mineral elements such as potassium, Magnesium, and Sodium. Potassium
helps to control blood pressure and low intake of Potassium rich food especially when coupled
with a high intake of sodium, can lead to hypertension (Onwueme, 1978).
One of the nutritional problems confronting man especially Nigerians is the provision of food
alternatives and adjuncts that will support the available ones already determined for a
particular purpose. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is a common source of carbohydrate and other
nutrient normally recommended for diabetic and obese patient. The need arises for
alternatives and adjunct food for this class of patients.
This study therefore seeks to investigate the proximate and mineral compositions of Musa
paradisiaca and Dioscorea alata with a view to determine if Dioscorea alata can serve as an
alternative/or as an adjunct to Musa Paradisiaca, especially in the management of diabetic and
obese people based on their nutrient composition.
Materials And Methods
The samples of Musa Paradisiaca fruit and Dioscorea alata tuber were harvested from a
farmland in Umueke village in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State in Nigeria.
The samples were washed, peeled and sliced transversely into thin pieces. The sliced pieces
where dried in an oven at 105 0C for about 48hours. After drying, they were cooled and milled
into powdery form with a stainless kenwood warring blender and then stored in air tight plastic
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International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development
April 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2
ISSN: 2226-6348
containers prior to the analysis. The proximate analysis was carried out according to methods
described by AOAC (1990) and they were determined in duplicate. The protein contents were
determined by the kjeldahi nitrogen method; fat by soxhlet extraction method; the moisture
and crude fiber by the oven dry method; carbohydrate by the arithmetic difference method.
The iron contents were analyzed by spectrophotometric method using a uv-visible
spectrophotometer; Sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometric methods
while calcium and magnesium were determined by complexometric titration using EDTA.
The data obtained was subjected to student t-test at 95% confidence level to compare the
mean values of the composition of Musa Paradisiaca and Dioscorea alata.
Results And Discussions
The mean and standard deviations of the nutritive values of Musa Paradisiaca and Dioscorea
alata per 100g portion is shown in Tables 1. Both samples contained all the major nutrients
expected in food. The carbohydrate contents are lower than that in other staple tubers like
cassava, white yam and potatoes (Eka, 1978).
Table 1: PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF Musa paradisiaca And Dioscorea alata Per 100g
edible portion
Nutrients (%)
Musa paradisiaca
Dioscorea alata
Protein
Total carbohydrate
Available carbohydrate
Fat
Crude fiber
Moisture
Ash
2.70 ± 0.71 a
35.70 ± 0.14 a
34.40 ± 0.07 a
1.30 ± 0.57 a
2.30 ±0.42 a
58.70 ± 0.14 a
0.60 ± 0 a
2.45 ± 0.10 a
29.35 ±0.13 b
27.95 ± 0.06 b
0.30 ±0.42 a
1.40 ± 0.57 a
67.20 ± 0.14 b
0.70 ± 0 a

Results in the same horizontal row with the same superscript are not significantly
different (p=0.05).
And it has been reported that they have low glycemic indices (Fachmann et al., 1999). The
carbohydrate and moisture contents in the samples are comparable to values reported in
literature (FAO, 1972; Bradbury and Holloway, 1988). The values obtained for all the
parameters are all within the range reported in similar analysis by Engelberg et al. (2003); FAO
(1972); Olaoye et al. ( 2006) and Bariye et al. (2011).
The fat levels of 1.38% and 0.30% for Musa paradisiaca and D. alata respectively are similar to
that reported by Engelberg (2003) and FAO (1990). The values for D. alata is comparable to that
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International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development
April 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2
ISSN: 2226-6348
obtained for other root crops such as potatoes (0.40%) and cassava (0.30%) (Richard and
Coursey, 1981). Musa paradisiaca indicated higher values of fat than that of D. alata.
The protein contents of D. alata and M. Paradisiaca (2.45% and 2.70% respectively) are
comparable to that reported for sweet potato (5.60-6.80%) and higher than that reported for
cassava tuber of 1.70% (Gomez and Valdivieso, 1983) hence Musa paradisiaca and Dioscorea
alata should not be considered protein poor.
Table 2 shows the mineral compositions of both samples and the result indicates that they are
high sources of mineral elements with potassium having the highest value. The potassium levels
in Dioscorea alata (323.5%) being significantly lower than that of Musa paradisiaca (456.5%).
These values are comparable to result reported by Udensi et al. (2008). The levels of Sodium,
Calcium and magnesium are also relatively high.
Table 2: MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF Musa paradisiaca And Dioscorea alata. Per 100g edible
portion
Elements ( mg/100g )
Musa paradisiaca
Dioscorea alata
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
Sodium
Potassium
37.56 ± 0.11 a
24.140 ± 0.10 a
1.03 ± 0.10 a
225.0 ± 0.14 a
456.5 ±0.06 a
37.67 ± 0.10 a
16.63 ±0.06 b
1.03 ± 0.10 a
225.0 ±0.13 a
323.0 ± 0.07 b

Results in the same horizontal row with the same superscript are not significantly
different (p=0.05).
This result indicates that they can both be eaten individually and /or as an alternative source of
nutrient and minerals for proper body function and maintenance.
Conclusion
The result of this assessment has shown that M. paradisiaca and D. alata have comparable
nutritional and mineral composition and hence can serve as a good source of nutrients and
minerals. Hence, D. alata can be consumed as an alternative or an adjunct to M. paradisiaca
considering its proximate composition and high levels of mineral elements.
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April 2012, Vol. 1, No. 2
ISSN: 2226-6348
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