Evaluation Of Nutritional And Toxicological Effect Of Different Ripening Agents On Dessert Banana (Musa Acuminata) Fruits:- Mba, Edna N

ABSTRACT xv Different artificial ripening agents are used for climacteric fruits in South-Eastern Nigeria and other locations. The adverse potentials of some artificial ripening agents have been established. Nutritional and possible toxicological effects of artificial ripening of dessert bananas were investigated in this study. Calcium carbide, torch batteries, wood ash and avocado pear (Persea americand) were employed as ripening agents. Changes in nutritional composition were determined by comparing the artificially with naturally ripened and unripe banana fruits. Fruits using calcium carbide (ARBI) ripened by day 2, while fruits with torch batteries (ARB2) and wood ashes (ARB3) took 4 days to ripen. Avocado pear (ARB4) and naturally ripened bananas (NRB) ripened by day 3 and day 7 respectively. Selected minerals, proximate and vitamin content of these fruit pulp were analyzed. Ash and moisture content of banana pulps increased during ripening in the ranges of 1.0-1.9% and 69.00-74.10% respectively while carbohydrate content reduced (26.52-20.57%). Protein content increased from 1.6-1.8% while fibre content reduced from 1.6-1.05%. Mineral contents such as magnesium, zinc and potassium were highest in unripe (7.60mg/100g), naturally ripened (7.80mg/100g) and wood ash ripened (38.43mg/100g) fruits respectively. Analyzed vitamins were high in the naturally ripened fruits with B2 at 2.40mg/100g and C at 35.30mg/100g while B6 was higher in avocado pear ripened fruits at 2.60mg/100g. Calcium carbide, torch battery, wood ash, avocado pear and naturally ripened banana fruits were fed to different groups of male wistar albino rats as 100 g of banana purees made in 10ml ofwater per kg body weight for 30 days. On the 3 lstday, animals were sacrificed, the blood samples collected alongside organs (kidney and livers). Kidney and liver function markers, antioxidant status as well as some haematological parameters were assayed for (alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate transaminases, direct and total bilirubin, albumin, total protein, malondialdehyde, creatinine and urea, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red and white blood cell counts) in all groups. Statistical analysis showed various levels of significant (p<0.05) increase in liver markers and reduction in the percentage packed cell volume in the test groups that fed on calcium carbide (ARBI), torch battery (ARB2) and wood ash (ARB3) ripened bananas when compared to groups that fed on avocado pear (ARB4) and naturally (NRB) ripened bananas. Histopathology revealed normal kidney and liver in all groups except for the liver of group 1 (which fed on ARBI) which showed multifocal hepatic necrosis with infiltration of inflammatory leucocytes. Findings suggest that these artificial ripening agents investigated reduced nutritional value of bananas and may confer adverse effect on kidney and liver functions as well as the haemopoietic system.