Vol. 1, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

An analysis on Some Physicochemical, Phytochemical and Elemental Composition of Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Pulp and Seed were carried out. Avocado fruit is a tropical fruit and is one of the most productive plants per unit of cultivated area. Avocado stands out for its high nourishing value and its usefulness to growth and development. It has also been the subject of intense and varied use in the past not only for its importance in food but also for medicinal needs. The length, thickness, width, roundness, sphericity, mass, true density, bulk density, porosity, angle of repose, static coefficient of friction were all investigated. Moisture contents of 78.39±0.17% and 57.65±0.27% (DB) for the pulp and seed was determined respectively which revealed that the seed contained more of moisture than fat and fibre. The pulp of avocado has the highest content of all proximate analysis considered except in carbohydrate where the seed has 12.71±3.41. It was stated that the pulp has the highest amount of total carbon of 83.20±0.014%. These values were analyzed using AOAC methods. The pulp of the avocado proved to be rich in Saponins (0.15±0.02mg/100g), phenolic compounds (3.04±0.11mg/100g), 0.13±0.02 mg/100g Tannins, 0.01±0.00 mg/100g Cyanogenic glycosides, 0.15±0.00 mg/100g Alkaloids, 2.08±0.19 mg/100g Steroids, 5.11±0.11 mg/100g Phytates and flavonoids (4.05±0.12mg/100g). The seed was superior to the pulp in the contents of all phytochemical compounds with 18.91±2.01mg/100g of Saponins, 7.00±1.18 mg/100g of total phenols, 0.26±0.22mg/100g Tannins, 0.04±0.02mg/100g Cyanogenic glycosides, 0.70±0.12mg/100g Alkaloids, 7.00±1.18mg/100g Phenols and 44.3±3.1 mg/100g of flavonoids but lesser in steroids and phytates with 0.08±0.00mg/100g and 3.31±0.19mg/100g respectively. This research work was carried out in the Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Animal Production and Health. Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.