January 2017
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Water lily (Nymphaea lotus) bulbs from Mankhanwa River in Ibi – Nigeria were quantified for their biochemical composition. Proximate composition, anti-nutritional factors, minerals, vitamins and phytochemical contents in the plant bulb were assayed using Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standard methods. Values were obtained in duplicate and results tabulated using mean ± standard deviation. The result of the proximate analysis shows the following composition: crude fat (5.07 ± 0.01%), crude fiber (13.30 ± 0.02), crude protein (21.66 ± 0.01), ash (8.34 ± 0.01), moisture (9.72 ± 0.00) and carbohydrate (41.92 ± 0.06%). The present research also revealed that Nymphaea lotus bulb contains some vital phytochemicals: phytate (3.68 ± 0.01 mg/100g), tannin (13.63 ± 0.01), saponins (4.89 ± 0.01) and lycopene (1.96 ± 0.01) and very rich in minerals: phosphorus (635.39 ± 0.01 mg/100g), potassium (742.89 ± 0.04), sodium (431.53 ± 0.01), zinc (8.16 ± 0.01) and magnesium (87.46 ± 0.01). Other minerals obtained in this research include: cadmium, lead and copper in trace quantity. Vitamin A (51.36 ± 0.02 mg/100g) and C (24.65 ± 0.02) were found in moderate quantities. Other vitamins obtained in trace amount include: B1, B2 and E. Anti-nutrients were found to also exist in trace quantities. Information from this biochemical quantification suggests that the bulb from this important aquatic plant can be incorporated as a good source of nutrients in food industries for flour production, pharmaceutical industries for drug production as well as in the cosmetic industries.