Proximate Composition, Mineral Elements and Starch Characteristics: Study of Eight (8) Unripe Plantain Cultivars in Nigeria

Background: Composition of foods eaten routinely in quantities that constitute and supply macro and micronutrients is relevant in the overall assessment of public health status. Analysis of such foods will provide evidence on nutritional quality, guide to healthy choice and promote intake of varieties with superior qualities during ill-health and prevention of diet-associated disorders.
Aims: To evaluate the proximate composition, mineral elements, glycemic index, amylose content and gelatinization temperature of eight (8) cultivars of unripe plantains (Musa paradisiaca) commonly consumed in Nigeria.
Methodology: Mature unripe varieties purchased from a public local market were identified by a crop scientist. Flour samples obtained from the fresh plantain pulps were analysed in triplicates by standard methods, including AOAC official methods.
Results: Moisture content ranged from 10.00-18.30% with statistical significant differences (P<.05) within the mean values. The ranges of ash, fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrate were 0.55-2.53, 0.19-0.61, 2.05-4.07, 1.12-7.24 and 69.96-81.18%, on dry weight basis, respectively. The ranges of mineral elements were Na 18.47-27.78, K 264.75-452.50, Ca 102.15-162.04, Mg 86.72-150.05, P 152.69-260.21, and Fe 11.92-21.46 mg/kg weight of sample. Amylose contents showed significant differences (P<.05) across the means and ranged from 40.25-70.75%. The cultivar, Efol had the least for amylose content (40.25%) and gelatinization temperature (68.500C). Glycemic index ranged from 39.04 to 51.05%.
Conclusion: Plantain cultivars in this study contain variable nutritional compositions. The proximate and mineral nutrients were moderately low except carbohydrate with high content. The plantain cultivars had high amylose contents and low glycemic indices. Consumption of these plantains may have important non-pharmacological health benefits in the dietary management of type 2 diabetis mellitus, especially Nblpaul and Agbagba cultivars.