Authors : B.A. Anhwange , V.O. Ajibola and S.J. Oniye
Abstract: The seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) Detarium microcarpum (Guill and Perr) and Bauhinia monandra (Kurz.) were analysed for essential, essential trace and non-essential elements. Detarium microcarpum had high amount of potassium (105 mg gG ), sulphur (1.63 mg gG ) and iron (3.12 mg gG ), while B. monandra had high amount of calcium (77.9 mg gG) magnesium (2.87 mg gG ) and phosphorus (1.59 mg gG ) sodium concentration as highest (2.999 mg gG ) in M. oleifera. The concentration 1 1 of essential trace elements in the seeds varied, the iodine (5.42 mg gG ) was found to be 1 highest in D. microcarpum and the lowest was molybdenum (0.011 mg gG ) in M. oleifera. The concentration of the non-essential and rare earth elements (arsenic, lead, tin, nickel, bromine, vanadium, cobalt, rubidium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, thallium and niobium) were found to be low (<0.70 mg gG ) in 1 the three seeds. The concentration of thallium was 1.10, 1.96 and 1.69 mg gG in M. oleifera, 1 D. microcarpum and B. monandra, respectively. The results indicate that the mineral contents of these wild plants are comparable with average values of common fruits and seeds. Therefore, they could serve as supplementary sources of mineral nutrients for man and livestock.
B.A. Anhwange , V.O. Ajibola and S.J. Oniye , 2005. Composition of Bulk, Trace and some Rare Earth Elements in the Seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam) Detarium microcarpum (Guill and Perr)and Bauhinia monandra (Kurz) . Journal of Food Technology, 3: 290-293.