Chemical composition of differently processed false Yam (Icacina tricantha) tubermeal

Abstract

Freshly harvested false yam (Icacina tricantha) tubers from the wild in Ekpoma located between the tropical rain forest and the derived savanna were differently processed into flour. Samples from oven dried, sun-dried as well as parboil and thereafter sun-dried were subjected to proximate and some mineral elements analysis. The sun dried sample registered the highest crude protein and energy value of 10.21% and 15.744 MJ/Kg which was significantly different (P<0.05) from the oven dried as well as parboil and sun dried with values of 10.04%, 14.983MJ/Kg, and 8.16%, 14.635MJ/, respectively. Concentrations of copper and manganese were low and significant difference (P<0.05) between the samples were registered. There was high level of calcium and magnesium in all the samples analysed with significant difference existing between the differently processed samples. False yam from this study can be said to be rich in energy nutrient and relatively a good source of some macro elements like calcium and magnesium.