Biochemical Characterization, Functional Attributes, and Nutritional Mineral Mapping of Underutilized Wild Dioscorea Species

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 9, No. 1, January 2018 | pp. 1–8

DOI: 10.46882/2018/IJC/000112

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Biochemical Characterization, Functional Attributes, and Nutritional Mineral Mapping of Underutilized Wild Dioscorea Species

Names of Authors: A. E. Ogunkoya¹, J. M. R. S. Tavares²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
²Department of Food Technology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract: Non-conventional wild tuber crops serve as highly resilient food reserves in tropical zones, yet detailed chemical mapping of their dietary matrices is required to expand their domestication. This research evaluates the proximate nutritional composition, functional attributes, and mineral profile of three underutilized wild yam species (Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea dumetorum, and Dioscorea praehensilis) gathered during the dry season harvest in West Africa. Proximate analysis established high total carbohydrate contents ranging from 72.4% to 78.5% on a dry weight basis, alongside moderate crude protein profiles (6.4% to 8.8%) and very low lipid concentrations (0.8% to 1.5%). Mineral profiling using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed that potassium was the most abundant macro-element (640 to 820 mg/100g), followed by magnesium and phosphorus, while toxic heavy metal pollutants remained well below international safety thresholds. Quantified antinutritional matrices showed high baseline concentrations of total oxalates (3.4 to 5.2 mg/g) and alkaloid dioscorine fractions. Processing simulations proved that combined boiling and fermentation treatments effectively reduced antinutrient levels by over 82% without causing significant loss of structural proteins, establishing these wild tubers as excellent energy reservoirs.

Keywords: Wild yams; Dioscorea species; Proximate composition; Mineral profile; Antinutrients; Food chemistry

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 18, 2016; Revised: November 28, 2016; Accepted: January 05, 2017; Published: January 03, 2018.

Citation: Ogunkoya, A. E., & Tavares, J. M. R. S. (2018). Biochemical Characterization, Functional Attributes, and Nutritional Mineral Mapping of Underutilized Wild Dioscorea Species. International Journal of Chemistry, 9(1), 1–8.

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