Ecological variation in essential elements and trace elemental composition of some Nigerian fruits.
Isong E. U., Edet A. J., Adewusi S. A., Udoessien E. I.
Author Affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Uyo, P.O. Box 2311, Uyo-Akwa State, Nigeria.
African Journal of Health Sciences 4 : 35-38
Abstract : Identical species of various fruits (bananas, oranges, cucumbers, pineapples, okra, limes, kola nuts, bitter kola (Gamicia kola), pears and mangoes) were harvested just ripe from 2 different regions in Southern Nigeria and assayed for trace elemental composition. There was significant variation in observed results. Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and P in fruits obtained from locations in South-western Nigeria were generally higher than those obtained from fruits harvested in South-eastern Nigeria, except for Ca and Mg which showed a converse trend. It is concluded that this study highlighted some of these locally available fruits as good sources of trace elements.