Assessment Of Chemical, Phytotoxin And Mycotoxin Contamination Of Edible Grains Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Samples of groundnut, millet, wheat, guinea corn and breadfruit were analysed for proximate chemical composition, phytotoxins, mycotoxin, mineral and trace elements. The investigation showed that the samples contained 8.00 ± 0.62 - 11. 98 ± 0.54% moisture, 8.73 ± 0.92 - 26.9 ± 1.42% protein, 1.27 0.27- 48.82 ± 1.62% fat, 0.91 ± 0.24-6.92 ± 1.32% crude fibre, 1.64 ± 0.13-3.06 ± 0.43% ash, 6.11 ± 2.56 - 75.73 ± 1.76% CHO; Phytotoxin contents were 0.60 ± 0.06-1.24 ± 0.08% alkaloid, 0.82 ± 0.13-2.27 ± 0.55%falconoid, 0.03 ± 0.02 - 0.05 ± 0.03% saponins, 0.50 ± 0.06 - 0.60 ± 0.03% tannins, 2.40 ± 0.34-2.80 ± 0.08% phenols, U.17 ±0.04 -0.30 ± 0.03% phytic acid, 4.83 ± 0.18- 8.42 ± 0.35% HCN. Vitamin contents were 0.36 ± 0.03-29.97 ± 1.09 iu/kg vitamin A, 8.80 ± 0.60 - 28.60 ± 0.64mg/bOg vitamin C, 0.54 ± 0.07 - 17.38 ± 0.50mg/bOg Niacin, 0.09 ± 0.02-0.90 ± 0.04mg/ bOg Thiamin, 0.07 ± 0.03 - 0.18 ± 0.03mg/bOg Riboflavin. Samples were rich of mineral and trace elements contents; Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, and V.Trace heavy metals; Pb, Cd, As and Hg, were of safe limit. Samples contained 19.00 ± 1.17 - 78.21 ± 292.ig/kg Aflatoxin Bi ,therefore, prolonged consumption of large part of the samples may constitute a public health hazard.