Comparison of Nutrient and Mineral Composition of Ripe and Unripe Fruits of Mukia maderaspantana (L.) M.Roem.

Edible wild plants are nature's gift to mankind. Considering the growing need to identify alternative bio-nutritional sources, some underutilized species of M. maderspantana were analysed for the nutrient and mineral composition. The plants are traditionally used as they possess hepatoprotective, antirheumatic, diuretic, antipyretic, antiflatulent, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antibronchitis. M.maderaspantana fruit is considered as an underutilized fruit. This study was aimed to determine the proximate and mineral composition of ripe and unripe M. maderaspantana fruits to explore its uses as a source of nutrients. The major proximal components (moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, fibers and carbohydrates) were determined by standard AOAC methods. The concentration of various minerals (K, Ca, Mg and Na) and trace elements (Fe and Zn) were recorded by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Significant differences for all the proximate values (moisture, ash, carbohydrate, crude protein, lipids and fibers) and mineral values (sodium, potassium, phosphate, calcium, iron and zinc) between the ripe and unripe fruits showed that the ripe fruit had higher contents (P < 0.05) than its unripe counterpart. The ripe and unripe Mukia maderspantna fruits could potentially be used as functional food ingredients in the future.