African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Short Communication

Determination of alkaloids and oxalates in some selected food samples in Nigeria

S.A. Adeniyi1, C.L. Orjiekwe1* and J.E. Ehiagbonare2
1Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Science, Igbinedion University Okada, P.M.B. 0006, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. 2Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Science, Igbinedion University Okada, P.M.B. 0006, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 17 November 2008
  •  Published: 05 January 2009

Abstract

The amount of alkaloids and oxalates present in some selected Nigerian food samples were determined. The samples include Solanum tuberosum L., Ipo-mea batatas L., Discorea alta, Discorea rotundata, Colocasia esculents L., Triticum vulgare, Soja hispida and Amarathus sp. The percentage alkaloids present in the samples ranged from 11.4 - 29.5% while that of oxa-lates range from 20 - 92 mg per 100 g of fresh weight sample. Sol. tubero-sum L. has the highest alkaloid content while Amarathus sp. has the highest oxalate content. There is a positive correlation between the alkaloid content and oxalate content in the food samples analyzed.

 

Key words: Alkaloids, oxalates, gravimetric, titremetric.