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Moringa oleifera leaves are generally consumed in the dry powdered form. Therefore, this research was
carried out to investigate the effect of temperature on the nutritional quality of M. oleifera leaves
powder. The leaves were dried under the shade at 30C for two weeks and in the oven at temperature
range from 40 to 70C for 2 h. The results show that temperature affects nutrient composition of the
leaf powder. As the drying temperature increased, crude protein decreased significantly (p0.05). The
samples from shade drying had protein content value of 28.44 g/100 g, while samples those dried at
70C had 19.89 g/100 g. Similar trends were observed for fat content which was 2.69 g/100 g for shade
drying and 2.46 g/100 g at 70C. The ash, fibre and carbohydrate contents of leaf powder increased with
drying temperature. Samples from shade drying had 4.55, 16.33, and 32.75 g/100g for ash, fibre and
carbohydrate respectively. However, the amounts of ash, fibre and carbohydrate increased significantly
to 5.20, 17.66 and 52.30 g/100 g, respectively when dried at 70C. The beta-carotene which is the
precursor of vitamin A significantly (p<0.05) decreased from 5,220.20 mg/100 g in shade dried leaves to
4,946.20 mg/100 g in oven dried at 70 C. Vitamin C content decreased slightly from 27.39 mg/100 g for
shade dried to 25.70 mg/100 g, dried at 70C. The minerals investigated generally showed significant
increase with temperature. In general, the nutritional parameters of M. oleifera leaves dried in the shade
varied closely with those dried in the oven at 40 and 50C for 2 h.
Key words: Moringa oleifera, drying, temperature effect, nutritional quality.
INTRODUCTION
Moringa oleifera (Moringa pterygosperma) is the most
widely cultivated specie of the genus Moringa (Fuglie,
2001). Other English common names are benzolive tree
and West Indian ben. It is also known as drumstick tree,
from the appearance of long, slender, triangular seed
396
Chemical analysis
The crude protein and water soluble and insoluble ash contents
were determined using the method of AOAC (2000). The moisture,
fat and crude fibre contents were determined using the method
described by AOAC (2005), while carbohydrate was by difference
(Ihekoronye and Ngoddy 1985). Vitamin C content was determined
titrimetrically using the method of British pharmacopoeia (2000).
While total carotenoid content was determined using the method
described by Akpapunam and Ibiama (1985). The mineral
composition was determined using the atomic absorption
spectrophotometer (UNICAM 960 series) as described by AOAC
(2005).
Statistical analysis
Data obtained was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA)
using a split-split plot model according to the methods of Gomez
and Gomez (1984). When significant (P<0.05), Duncans new
multiple range test (Duncan, 1975) was used to separate means.
Alakali et al.
397
Parameters
Moisture
Fat
Ash
Fibre
Protein
Carbohydrate
Fresh leaves
80.04a0.03
a
1.52 0.01
a
2.00 0.00
3.51a0.01
a
10.93 0.02
a
6.42 0.00
(302C)
15.01b0.01
b
2.67 0.08
b
4.55 0.06
16.33b0.33
b
28.44 0.01
32.57b0.21
40C
12.60c0.06
b
2.71 0.01
b
4.60 0.06
17.46c0.03
c
26.24 0.01
36.44c0.01
50C
10.33d0.33
c
2.65 0.03
b
4.70 .0.06
17.40c0.06
d
21.18 0.33
46.34d0.33
60C
5.00e0.00
b
2.47 0.03
c
5.22 0.00
17.61c0.01
e
20.75 0.03
49.08e0.00
LSD
70C
2.50f0.00
b
2.46 0.00
c
5.20 0.00
17.66c0.01
f
19.89 0.00
52.30f0.00
0.43
0.13
0.13
0.43
0.42
0.50
Values are means of triplicate determinations. Means with different superscripts within the same column are significantly
different from each other (p>0.05). A = Shade dried, B = oven dried at 40C, C = oven dried at 50C, D = oven dried at 60C,
E = oven dried at 70C. lime spray drying (LSD).
temperature
on
proximate
398
Parameters
Fresh leaves
Carotenoids
Vitamin C
6010.00a5.77
a
220.00 5.77.
(302C)
5223.50b3.33
b
27.39 0.33
40C
5140.20c0.33
b
27.85 0.33
50C
5024.90d0.33
c
26.53 0.33
60C
4824.50e3.40
d
25.70 0.33
LSD
70C
4946.20f00
e
25.70 0.00
168.94
0.75
Values are means of triplicate determinations. Means with different superscripts within the same column are significantly different from each other
(p>0.05). A = Shade dried, B = oven dried at 40C, C = oven dried at 50C, D = oven dried at 60C, E = oven dried at 70C. lime spray drying (LSD).
Parameters
Fresh leaves
Ca
Mg
K
P
Fe
Zn
0.81a0.01
0.46 a0.01
0.31 a0.01
0.07a0.01
3.17a0.01
a
4.65 0.01
A
(302C)
1.37b0.01
0.69b0.01
0.46b0.06
0.09b0.00
4.29b0.60
b
5.13 0.01
50C
2.44d0.01
0.88d0.01
1.15d0.01
0.13a0.01
4.71bc0.01
6.200.10
60C
3.17e0.06
0.94e0.06
1.37e0.01
0.18d0.01
5.08c0.01
e
6.86 0.01
LSD
E
70C
3.67f0.02
1.13f0.06
1.79f0.01
0.18d0.01
5.40c0.01
f
7.34 0.01
0.08
0.06
0.06
0.15
0.10
Values are means of triplicate determinations. Means with different superscripts within the same column are
significantly different from each other (p>0.05). A = Shade dried, B = oven dried at 40C, C = oven dried at 50C, D =
oven dried at 60C, E = oven dried at 70C. lime spray drying (LSD).
Alakali et al.
399
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gbgm.
Umc.org/health/aidsafrica/moringamiracletree.stm.