Kalu Emmanuel Okechukwu^1,, Princewill-Ogbonna Ijeoma Lawretta², Azuka Chinenye Eberechukwu¹, Okocha Kalu Stanley³, Kalu Chibuike Egbuta⁴, Nweke Chijioke Joel⁵

Levels of some nutrients and anti-nutrients of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (L.)Schott) inflorescence was determined using standard analytical methods. Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate and moisture contents were 3.10%, 1.78%, 1.17%, 2.83%, 11.61% and 70.33% respectively. The vitamin composition was found to be at the levels of 348.91µg/dl for vitamin A and 27.21mg/100g for vitamin C. The elemental analysis of the inflorescence (in percentage) indicated that it contained appreciable levels of calcium (1.14), magnesium (4.80), manganese (5.49), zinc (60.70), iron (0.003), copper (0.04), sodium (22.92), potassium, (152.43), phosphorus (1.60) and iodine (18.13). The anti-nutrient composition (in percentages) for phytate, cyanide, oxalate and saponin were 32.27, trace, 36.07, 85.72 and tannin 17.15mg/100g respectively. These results revealed that cocoyam inflorescence can serve as good sources of nutrients, vitamins and mineral elements and contained low levels of toxicants and therefore, should be included in diets to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body.

cocoyam inflorescence, proximate analysis, anti-nutrients, minerals, vitamins