Nutritional and Phytochemical Potentials of Banana (Musa sapientum L.) and Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) Peels Generated from Elebele, Bayelsa State.

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical, mineral and proximate compositions of ground powder obtained from peels of banana and plantain waste, produce from Elebele in Ogbia, Bayelsa State. Banana and plantain peels were collected from waste bins in Elebele. Dried ground plant material from the peels was used to determine the nutritional and phytochemical constituents. Triplicate results were used to determine the mean and standard error from the data obtained from the analysis.  Values obtained showed that banana peels (BP) and plantain peels (PP) contain significant higher level of  potassium (1420.92 mg/100 g - BP and  730 mg/100 g- PP), moderate calcium (46.07 mg/100 g- BP and 40.33 mg/100 g - PP) and magnesium (23.20 BP/16.61 mg/100 g PP). However, lower values were recorded for sodium, copper, manganese and zinc. Proximate values showed a high content of carbohydrates (63.34 mg/100 g _ BP and 54.01 mg/100g PP ). Moderate levels of moisture content ( 16.10 mg/100 g _ BP, 14.46  mg/100 g_ PP) were observed, while crude ash, protein, fibre and fat content were relatively low. Results for phytochemical analysis revealed a high content of oxalates (26.43 mg/100g _BP and 20.56 mg/100 g- PP), while there was the presence of saponins, tannins, phytates, flavonoids and alkaloids. The result in this study revealed that peels from banana and plantain are a good source of minerals, nutrients and secondary metabolites which can be converted to useful products in medicine, animal feeds and functional food products for human nutrition.