PROXIMATE COMPOSITIONS AND ANTIOXIDANT MINERAL LEVELS OF CHIA SEED AND TIGER NUT PROCURED FROM NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Salvia hispanica (Chia Seed) also known as chia seed, is an annual herbaceous plant, originally from Southern Mexico. Chia seeds have become one of the world’s most recognizable foods based on their nutritional properties and medicinal values. Cyperus esculentus L. (Tiger Nut) is a valuable food for nourishment with significant health benefits, they are rich in vitamins and minerals. This study was aimed at evaluating the proximate compositions and antioxidant mineral levels of chia seed and tiger nut procured from Nnewi, Anambra State were evaluated using standard methods. Proximate composition of Salvia hispanica and Cyperus esculentus were determined according to AOAC official method. Elemental analysis was conducted using Agilent FS240AA Atomic Absorption Spectrophometer. Data obtained from the experiments were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results of proximate composition of chia seed and tiger nut seed samples used in this study revealed that chia seed and tiger nut samples used contain high percentage of carbohydrate and fat. It also revealed that chia seed had significantly higher (P <0.05) percentage of protein and fat than tiger nut. The result also revealed that chia seed contained significantly higher (P<0.05) concentrations of iron than tiger nuts, suggesting its usefulness in boosting blood parameters. Finally, the results of this study revealed that chia seed and tiger nut possess good quantity of antioxidant minerals and high percentage of carbohydrates and fats and therefore could be useful in energy generation and in the management of oxidative stress.