Physicochemical Characteristics of Xanthosoma Mafafa Leaf Meal Subjected to Palm Bunch Ash Solution Treatment

Abstract

act Varying concentrations of palm bunch ash solutions (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 g/100ml water) were used to blanch cocoyam (Xanthosoma mafafa) leaf meal (XMLM) at 100oC for three minutes and the effect on its physical and proximate compositions was determined. The bulk density, total solids, specific gravity, water holding capacity and pH values of XMLM increased with increasing ash solution concentration, while ether extract and crude fiber values decreased with increasing ash solution concentration, with control (A) value being significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the treated samples. The reverse was, however, the case for total ash and NFE values, with control value being significantly lower than the values of ash solution treated samples (p<0.05). The XMLM was generally high in crude protein value (28.31%). The nutrient value of XMLM could, therefore, be enhanced through blanching with palm bunch ash solutions.