A STUDY OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, NUTRITIVE AND ANTI-NUTRITIVE VALUES OF CALABASH FRUIT

The calabash (Cresentia cujete) fruit was studied for its proximate and mineral composition as well as its phytochemical constituents.  The sugar content, energy content, protein, nitrogen, crude fibre, moisture content, sucrose, fructose, galactose and energy content are quite reasonably high (viz: 1.13%, 8.35%, 1.34%,  4.28%,  84.92%,  59.86%,  25.09%, 18.24% and 88.69%). The pH of the fruit falls within the acidic range (4.8) and the mean value recorded for the electrical conductivity was 163.24CµS. The mean values recorded for the mineral elements showed a high concentration for sodium and phosphorus respectively, while others had low mean values. But for manganese, iron, zinc, and copper, the mean value concentration recorded for the heavy metals were found to be relatively low. The presences of heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, lead, chromium, etc., notwithstanding in trace amounts. The presence of phytochemicals like saponins, flavonoid, cardenolides, tannins and phenol etc. were confirmed in the fruit sample as well as the presence of hydrogen cyanide. The findings on the phytochemical constituents, mineral composition and proximate composition of the Cresentia cujete suggest that the fruit can make useful contribution to both human and animal health and nutrition.