Emelugo B.N., Umerie S.C., Okonkwo I.F., Achufusi J.N.
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Agriculture and Bioresource Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Biology, Nwa
Emelugo, B.N., Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Umerie, S.C., Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Okonkwo, I.F., Department of Agriculture and Bioresource Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Achufusi, J.N., Department of Biology, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State, Nigeria
The proximate analysis of Cyperus rotundus tubers were evaluated and the composition was found to be: 9.0±0.80, 1.75±0.55, 9.50±0.86, 7.87±0.92, 17.48±1.04 and 63.60±1.52% for moisture, crude protein, oil, ash, crude fibre and carbohydrate respectively. The quality of the oil extracted by Soxhlet was assessed in terms of acid value, free fatty acid content, iodine value, saponification value and specific gravity. Results showed that the oil has a low iodine number thus placing it as a non-drying oil, stable and reduced degree of unsaturation. The saponification value and the heat of combustion, implicated the oil as non-edible but can be used for making alkyd resin, shampoo and soaps. The phytochemical constituents; terpenoids, tannins and flavonoids are also implicated in the allelopathic properties of the tubers. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011.
carbohydrate; fatty acid; flavonoid; iodine; resin; shampoo; soap; tannin derivative; terpenoid derivative; vegetable oil; vegetable protein; article; ash; biochemical composition; combustion; controlled study; Cyperus; Cyperus rotundus; heat; moisture; nonhuman; physical chemistry; plant fiber; plant morphology; quality control; relative density; saponification; tuber; Cyperus rotundus