Volume 11, Issue 2, November 2014, Pages 304–311
Agwu A. Ndukwe1, Edidiong A. Enoh2, and Queendalyn U. Aniere3
1 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
2 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
3 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Thaumatococcus daniellii (Miraculous berry) belonging to the family maranthaceae is one of the sweeteners found in the tropical forest. However in Nigeria, because of the excessive use of this species as wrapping leaf, very little is known about its fruit as a source of sweetener. Although the leaves are sold in the market as wrapping leaf for bean budding (moi-moi) and other cooked foods such as rice. Information on the propagation of this species and utilization of its parts is very scanty making the species one of the threatened forest species. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine; the nutritional properties of the gelatinous layer of the fruit and the effects of various harvesting methods on the plant growth. The gelatinous layer of the fruits of Thaumatococcus daniellii is a sweetener known as "Thaumatin". Thaumatin is a sweet-tasting, flavor – enhancing protein. Some of the proteins in the thaumatin family are natural sweeteners roughly 2000 times more potent. The morphological characteristics of the stands of this species were measured using standard methods. The nutritional and the phytochemical composition of the gelatinous layer extracts of the fruits were analyzed in the laboratory using standard methods, while two harvesting methods were used to determine the effect of harvesting on the plant growth. The mean values of the morphological characteristics of stands of Thaumatococcus daniellii were as follows; stem height (154.9cm), stem girth (2.26cm), petiole length (24.86cm), petiole girth (1.69cm), leaf area (1018.93cm2). The phytochemical analysis of the gelatinous layer extracts of the fruit showed that it contains saponin (0.19%), flavonoids (0.41%), phenol (0.06%), HCN (0.81%), Tannin (0.16%), Alkaloid (0.11%), Phytate (0.05%). The nutritional analysis of the gelatinous layer extract of the fruits showed that it contains calcium (6.68mg/100g), magnesium (0.60mg/100g), Ash (5.80%), Fibre (0.41%), Protein (19.01), Nitrogen (3.04%). The result obtained showed that the species are highly nutririous and the sugar content of its fruit can be easily substituted for white sugar and also used in pharmaceutical industries for children syrups. The best harvesting method is the ground level harvesting method. Conservation of this species and should be promoted.
Author Keywords: Thaumatococcus daniellii, Thaumatin, Morphological properties, Nutritional properties, Harvesting methods.
Agwu A. Ndukwe1, Edidiong A. Enoh2, and Queendalyn U. Aniere3
1 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
2 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
3 Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Thaumatococcus daniellii (Miraculous berry) belonging to the family maranthaceae is one of the sweeteners found in the tropical forest. However in Nigeria, because of the excessive use of this species as wrapping leaf, very little is known about its fruit as a source of sweetener. Although the leaves are sold in the market as wrapping leaf for bean budding (moi-moi) and other cooked foods such as rice. Information on the propagation of this species and utilization of its parts is very scanty making the species one of the threatened forest species. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine; the nutritional properties of the gelatinous layer of the fruit and the effects of various harvesting methods on the plant growth. The gelatinous layer of the fruits of Thaumatococcus daniellii is a sweetener known as "Thaumatin". Thaumatin is a sweet-tasting, flavor – enhancing protein. Some of the proteins in the thaumatin family are natural sweeteners roughly 2000 times more potent. The morphological characteristics of the stands of this species were measured using standard methods. The nutritional and the phytochemical composition of the gelatinous layer extracts of the fruits were analyzed in the laboratory using standard methods, while two harvesting methods were used to determine the effect of harvesting on the plant growth. The mean values of the morphological characteristics of stands of Thaumatococcus daniellii were as follows; stem height (154.9cm), stem girth (2.26cm), petiole length (24.86cm), petiole girth (1.69cm), leaf area (1018.93cm2). The phytochemical analysis of the gelatinous layer extracts of the fruit showed that it contains saponin (0.19%), flavonoids (0.41%), phenol (0.06%), HCN (0.81%), Tannin (0.16%), Alkaloid (0.11%), Phytate (0.05%). The nutritional analysis of the gelatinous layer extract of the fruits showed that it contains calcium (6.68mg/100g), magnesium (0.60mg/100g), Ash (5.80%), Fibre (0.41%), Protein (19.01), Nitrogen (3.04%). The result obtained showed that the species are highly nutririous and the sugar content of its fruit can be easily substituted for white sugar and also used in pharmaceutical industries for children syrups. The best harvesting method is the ground level harvesting method. Conservation of this species and should be promoted.
Author Keywords: Thaumatococcus daniellii, Thaumatin, Morphological properties, Nutritional properties, Harvesting methods.
How to Cite this Article
Agwu A. Ndukwe, Edidiong A. Enoh, and Queendalyn U. Aniere, “Determination of Morphological and Nutritional Properties of Thaumatococcus daniellii and Effect of Harvesting Method on the Plant Growth,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 304–311, November 2014.
