The levels of proximate composition, minerals, antinutrients, fibre components and calculated parameters for mineral bioavailability were determined in the testa, dehulled and whole seeds of Bambara groundnut on dry weight basis. Proximate levels were (g/100 g): ash (2.46- 4.36); crude fat (2.47-6.99); crude protein (15.2-22.2); crude fibre (1.03-22.9) and carbohydrate (51.6-61.9). The non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) components were (%): ADF, 7.13-29.0 (or 16.1 %-65.5 %); NDF, 1.77-23.6 (or 6.28 %-83.7 %); ADL, 6.15-28.0 (or 14.9 %-67.8 %); cellulose, 1.36-23.3 (or 5.02 %-86.0 %) and hemicellulose, 0.84-26.5 (or 2.86 %-90.1 %). In minerals (mg/100 g): Mn, Co and Cu were not detected; Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and P were low in values whereas Zn was high at 11.2-40.2. These parameters were also good for human health: Na/K (0.47-0.51) and Ca/Mg (2.58-4.36). Antinutrient values showed that Phy was high (14.4-29.2 mg/g); oxalate was high (5.02- 8.59 mg/g) and unavailable phosphorus as Pp % of P (10.2-49.3 %). The mineral bioavailability showed Ca/Phy to be good at 0.20-0.89 and [Ca] [Phy]/[Zn] to be good at 0.09-0.23 thereby making Zn bioavailable in all the samples. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v48i3.17325 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 48(3), 167-178, 2013

The levels of fatty acids, phospholipids and sterols were determined in the samples of Basella alba and Basella rubra commonly consumed in the South-Western Nigeria by gas chromatography. Results showed that the crude fat levels were 4.40 and 4.41 % in the Basella alba and Basella rubra samples respectively. The fatty acid composition of Basella alba and Basella rubra samples shows that the SFA was 26.0 and 24.9 %, MUFA was 1.19 and 1.24 % and PUFA was 72.5 and 73.8% respectively. The other quality parameters of Basella alba and Basella rubra were found: PUFA/SFA, 2.79 and 2.97; MUFA/SFA, 0.046 and 0.050; n-6/n-3, 2.47 and 3.31; LA/ALA, 0.890 and 1.12 and EPSI (PUFA/MUFA), 60.8 and 59.5 respectively. Phospholipids present in Basella alba and Basella rubra were 1679 and 1920 mg/100g respectively. In the group of phytosterols, sitosterol was highest with values of 196 mg/100g and 275 mg/100g in Basella alba and Basella rubra samples respectively. Linear correlation at α = 0.05, df: n-1 showed that significant difference exists between the fatty acid, quality parameters of the fatty acids phospholipids and sterols.

The levels of fatty acids, phospholipids and sterols were determined in the brains of she-goat and castrated goat found in Ekiti State, Nigeria by gas chromatography. Results showed that the crude fat levels were 9.98 and 10.2 % in the brains of she-goat and castrated goat respectively. The fatty acid composition of she-goat and castrated goat brain shows that the SFA was 40.6 and 42.7 %, MUFA was 37.1 and 38.7 % and PUFA was 20.9 and 22.3% respectively. The other parameters of she-goat and castrated goat brain were found: PUFA/SFA, 0.490 and 0.548; MUFA/SFA, 0.869 and 0.953; n-6/n-3, 0.775 and 11.7; LA/ALA, 0.876 and 28.0; AA/DGLA, 6.05 and 17.4; EPA/DHA, 1.00 and 5.89 and EPSI (PUFA/MUFA), 0.564 and 0.575 respectively. Phospholipids were present in she-goat and castrated goat with a value range of 2365 and 3047 mg/100g respectively. Among the sterols, only cholesterol was of any significant level with values of 1353 mg/100g (she-goat brain) and 1355 mg/100g (castrated goat brain). Linear correlation at α = 0.05, df: n-1 showed that no significant difference exists between the crude fats, phospholipids and sterols except in the fatty acids parameters.

No abstract