Pages: 1-6

Abstract

The comparative study of the proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of different ‎samples of Zingiber officinale cultivated in Kano and Kaduna States were investigated. The ‎result shows that Kano unpeeled sample had the highest moisture content (4.74 ± 0.3 %), crude ‎lipid content (11.15 ± 0.2 %) and protein content (4.92 ± 0.1 %), while Kano peeled sample had ‎the highest carbohydrate content (79.55 ± 0.3 %). The highest crude fibre content (1.15 ± 0.1 ‎‎%) was recorded in Kaduna peeled sample.  The mineral analysis shows that Kano unpeeled ‎sample had highest magnesium (2030.80 ± 1.78 mg/kg), calcium (7287.86 ± 0.76 mg/kg) iron ‎‎(39.13 ± 0.05 mg/kg), zinc (4.86 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and phosphorous content (3.68 ± 0.02 mg/kg); ‎while Kaduna unpeeled sample had the highest manganese (45.78 ± 0.06 mg/kg) and potassium ‎‎(666.50 ± 0.43 mg/kg) content. The highest sodium content (666.50 ± 0.17 mg/kg) was ‎recorded in Kano peeled sample. The phytochemical constituents detected in all the samples ‎include alkaloids, saponins, flavanoids, phenolic compounds, cardiac glycosides and steroids. ‎The present study has shown that there were no significant differences in the proximate and ‎phytochemical composition; however, Kano unpeeled sample contained higher amounts of ‎most of the mineral elements quantified, consequently, the commercial cultivation of Z. ‎officinale should be promoted in Kano State‎.