Nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica)

Abstract

Abstract: The whole and peeled samples of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) were analyzed for their nutrient and antinutrient contents. The protein, starch, total sugars, reducing sugars, vit-A, and vitB contents were higher in peeled anchote than in whole anchote samples. The phosphorous, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper contents of whole and peeled anchote were determined and peeling of anchote reduced the contents of calcium, potassium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium by 5%, 8%, 16%, 16%, and 19%, respectively. The phytic acid, oxalic acid and tannin contents of whole anchote were higher than those which were peeled by 20%, 22% and 29.6%, respectively. There were no detectable trypsin inhibitor activity in both samples of anchote. Oxalic acid in both anchote samples exists as insoluble oxalate and no water soluble oxalate was detected. As it is observed from the analysis made, anchote contained good nutrient composition with a good supplements of vitamins and minerals. Its antinutritional contents are probably of little nutritional significance and they may be still minimized or destroyed during cooking processes. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):163-168]