Abstract

Iboyi Nathaniel O.*, Enemor Victor A. H. and Mbachu N. A.

ABSTRACT

Nutritional and invitro antioxidant actions of cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) locally known as “isipaccara” in Effik, “aki awusa” in Igbo, ”aya” in Hausa and “ofio” in Yoruba and its other names are Zulu nut, yellow nut grass, ground almond, Chufa was carried out. Increasing awareness among consumers about its associated allergies, concerns about its saturated fatty acids, scarcity and cost however have necessitated the development of plant materials as alternative food ingredients. The proximate composition of the raw tuber showed that moisture content of tigernuts ranged from 29.84+0.47 %, crude protein 4.37+0.24 %, ash 15.25+0.09 %, crude fibre 6.79+0.11 %, crude fat 3.02+1.13 %, and carbohydrate 40.71+1.64 %. Tigernuts contain significant amounts of Mg (15.28+0.01mg), K (2.06+0.004 mg), Ca (4.97+0.02 mg), Se (4.98+0.09mg), Cu (0.08 – 0.99 mg), Zn (1.04+0.045 mg) and Na (1.59+0.01 mg), Antioxidant activity of the tiger was measured, the results shows that catalase is 2.18 ± 0.01, SOD unit enzymes is 1.67 ± 0.10, Nitric oxide (mg/kg) is 8.52 ± 1.51.