Proximate and Mineral Composition of Some Nigerian Fruits

Fresh fruit samples of guava (Psidium guajava), banana (Musa esculentus), pawpaw (Carica papaya), orange (Citrus sinensis), apple (Malaudomistica), watermelon (Citrus lanatus), soursop (Annonamuricata), bush mango (Irvingiagabonensis), pineapple (Ananuscomosus) were collected from Rumuolumeni market in Rivers state of Nigeria and analysed for nutrients and mineral contents. The nutrients compositions of the fruits showed that the amount of crude fibre ranged 0.00-3.55g/100g; crude protein, 0.29 – 1.28g/100g; Lipid, 0.10- 0.99g/100g; protein, 0.29 – 1.28g/100g; carbohydrate, 7.50 – 18.46g/100g; dry matter 10.40 – 27.44g/100g;ash, 0.27 – 2.50g/100g and moisture, 77.30 89.60g/100g.Elemental analysis of minerals gave the range of concentrations as zinc, 0.06 –1.26mg/g magnesium 14.67 – 45.71mg/g, iron 0.40 – 03.28mg/g, calcium,07.00 – 84.90mg/g. and potassium 26.15 – 380.05mg/g.Concentrations of iron were highest inA. comosus, magnesiumand potassium inM. paradisaca,zinc was highest inI. gabonensis and calcium was found to highest in C. papaya. The results showed that these fruits have safe and adequate dietary nutrients if consumed in the right proportion