2025/04/25 by Oguntimehin, Monica Oluwatoyin, Sunmonu, Zakiyah Olayemi, Isunu, Lucky Efe +1
paper · doi:10.48347/imist.prsm/ajmap-v10i2.50201
This study was designed to investigate the nutritional composition and heavy metals of African star fruit and carrot juice. The fresh and ripe fruits were obtained from the market and then subjected to microbiological, nutritional and heavy metals analyses. The bacterial counts from African star fruit and carrot juice ranged between 17 and 28, and 4 and 13 at dilutions 105, while the fungi, ranged between 2 and 12 and 33 at dilutions 102. The identifiable bacteria include Rahnella aquaticus, Serratia liquefaciencs, and S. proteamaculans, and fungi, Penicillum digitatum, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae from carrot and bacteria, Paenibacillus pectinilyticus and fungi, A. flavus and A. niger from African star apple. The nutritional compositions of the fruits before and after storage were analyzed and recorded. Before storage, the fresh carrot had 11.10% moisture, 9.19% protein, 1.24% fat, 1.65% ash, 1.23% fibre and 75.59% carbohydrate contents; while the African star apple revealed 11.10% moisture, 5.24% protein, 2.05% fat, 2.73% ash, 2.04% fibre and 74.75% carbohydrate contents, respectively. The mineral composition showed the content of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in the samples. The heavy metals contents fall within the permissible World Health Organization limit. The viscosity, pH and specific gravity of the samples before and after storage were also recorded. Hence, this study promises to inform researchers about the microbial, nutritional and health benefits of African star fruit and carrot juice.