Mineral Content, Proximate Composition and the Antioxidant Properties of the Ethanol Extract of Hyphaene thebaica L. from Gezawa Town, Kano State, Nigeria

The fruits of the doum palm tree, Hyphaene thebaica are one of the oldest relish fruit. This study analyzed the chemical composition (both proximate and the mineral contents) of this plant, as well as its antioxidant property. The mineral content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the proximate and phytochemical analyses were carried out using standard procedures at Bayero University, Kano. The fruit were found to contain some minerals including K (3366.21 mg/100 g), Ca (292.04 mg/100 g), Na (212.27 mg/100 g), Mg (177.14 mg/100 g), Fe (4.86 mg/100 g), Mn (0.83 mg/100 g), Zn (0.68 mg/100 g), Cu (0.40 mg/100 g), Ni (0.32 mg/100 g) and Co (0.12 mg/100 g). The proximate composition of the doum palm fruit pulp reveals protein (2.86%), lipid (0.92%), ash content (6.24%), crude fiber (12.87%), moisture content (8.64%) and carbohydrate 68.47%. The DPPH radical scavenging efficacy of the ethanol extract of the fruit of the doum palm tree was analyzed at different concentrations of the extract. At concentration 0.0625 mg/mL, 0.125 mg/mL, 0.250 mg/mL and 0.500 mg/mL the extract showed inhibitory activity of 31%, 61%, 72% and 81% respectively. Thus the doum palm fruit pulp extract possess potential antioxidant properties.