ANALYSIS OF THE ANTINUTRIENTS LEVELS IN STAPLE FOOD CROPS IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

The antinutrients levels in staple food crops (cassava, yam and potato) from Izzi, Ezza and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi state were determined using titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods. The antinutrients levels (mg/100ml) in cassava from Izzi recorded saponins (0.03 ± 0.01), tannins (5.25 ±0.10), phenols (0.04 ± 0.01), oxalates (0.47 ± 0.02), alkaloids (0.04 ± 0.04), and cyanogenic glycosides (0.26 ± 0.01); Ezza recorded saponins (0.04 ± 0.01), tannins (6.40 ± 0.10), phenols (0.16 ± 0.10), oxalates (0.43 ± 0.01), alkaloids (0.35 ± 0.02) and cyanogenic glycosides (0.02 ± 0.02). The cassava from Ikwo had saponins (0.06 ± 0.01), tannins (2.40 ± 0.10), phenols (0.06 ± 0.02), oxalates (0.08 ± 0.04), alkaloids (0.08 ± 0.02), and cyanogenic glycosides (0.0.2 ± 0.02). The concentrations of these antinutrients in yam from Izzi were 0.08 ± 0.03, 2.81. ± 0.17, 0.54 ± 0.04, 0.46 ± 0.04, 0.18 ± 0. 05 and 0.15 ± 0.10 for saponins, tannins, phenols, oxalates, alkaloids and cyanogenic glycosides respectively with corresponding values of 0.07 ± 0.06, 2. 10 ± 0.01, 0.37 ± 0.03, 0.81 ± 0.03, 0.74 ± 0.10 and 0.25 ± 0.10 for Ezza yam. The yam from Ikwo gave the following values: saponins (0.05 ± 0.01), tannins (10.2 ± 1.08), phenols (0.04 ± 0.04), oxalates (0.57 ± 0.06), alkaloids (0.27 ± 0.10), and cyanogenic glycosides (0.22 ± 0.10). Similarly, the concentrations of tannin, phenol, oxalate and alkaloid obtained in potatoes from these localities were as follows; Izzi 7.4 ± 0.03, 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.07, ± 0.04 and 0.96 ± 0.10; Ezza 6.30 ± 0.04, 0.08 ± 0.01, 0.03 ± 0.02 and 0.42 ± 0.10; Ikwo 5.1 ± 0.20, 0.06 ± 0.02, 0.17 ± 0.10 and 0.37 ± 0.02 respectively. Saponins and cyanogenic glycosides were absent in potato. The results depicted substantial variation in concentrations of the antinutrients in food crops from these localities.