African Journal of
Food Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Food Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0794
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJFS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 937

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of metal content in seeds of Moringa ovalifolia and Moringa oleifera

Natalia K. Ananias
  • Natalia K. Ananias
  • School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Namibia, P/Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
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Martha Kandawa-Schulz
  • Martha Kandawa-Schulz
  • Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Namibia, P/Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
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Marius Hedimbi
  • Marius Hedimbi
  • School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, University of Namibia, P/Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
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Habauka M. Kwaambwa
  • Habauka M. Kwaambwa
  • School of Health and Applied Sciences, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia.
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Hlanganani Tutu
  • Hlanganani Tutu
  • Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Charlene Makita
  • Charlene Makita
  • Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Luke Chimuka
  • Luke Chimuka
  • Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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  •  Received: 30 January 2016
  •  Accepted: 28 April 2016
  •  Published: 30 September 2016

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the minor and major elements present in seeds of Moringa ovalifolia and Moringa oleifera.  The seeds were air-dried after collection, then ground to a fine powder and digested with acids in a microwave system prior to analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The concentration of different elements in M. ovalifolia seeds such as Ca, K, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mn, Co and Cd varied (P<0.05) amongst the 3 sites were sampled. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) in the concentrations of elements such Mg, Li, Ba, Si, Al, Na and Zn was observed between sites. Potasium (K) was found to be present in highest amounts at all sites with average concentration of 7938 mg/kg while Li (10.78 mg/kg) had the lowest concentration. This study showed that the content of some metals in M. ovalifolia seeds varied depending on geographical sites. Both M. ovalifolia and M. oleifera seeds are a good source of important minerals and need to be explored further for use as supplements and ready source of dietary minerals in animal and human food.

Key words: Elemental analysis, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy, macronutrients,

Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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