Drying Kinetics and Chemical Composition of Ceratotheca Sesamoides Endl Leaves
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International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020 Vol. 5, Issue 4, ISSN No. 2455-2143, Pages 456-465 Published Online August 2020 in IJEAST (http://www.ijeast.com) DRYING KINETICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CERATOTHECA SESAMOIDES ENDL LEAVES T.A. Morakinyo, C.T. Akanbi, O.I. Adetoye Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun Styate, Nigeria Abstract-This study focused on the drying kinetics of (South-western Nigeria), Karkashi (Northern Nigeria), Ceratotheca sesamoides (False sesame) leaves, Tchaba-laba (Guinea Bissau) and Lalu-caminho (Senegal) determination of its proximate and mineral (Bedigian, 2003, Abiodun, 2017). Ceratotheca sesamoides compositions. The leaves of Ceratotheca sesamoides at leaves tolerates heat and drought with high resistance to 88.59% moisture content (wb) were obtained, sorted, adverse conditions, where other vegetables cannot survive. graded and subjected to a thin layer drying operation This characteristic enhances its wild distribution in various using hot air oven at varying drying temperatures of 50, parts of Africa as weed, commonly dispersed by wind and 60 and 70 oC. Drying data obtained were fitted into eight rainfalls (Bedigian, 2003). In Nigeria and Uganda, it is mathematical models; Page, Modified Page, Midili, sown in fields and intercropped with okra, eggplant, Newton, Two-term, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic cowpea, amaranth, sorghum, sweet potato and sesame on and Modified Henderson and Pabis. They were well-drained sandy soils (Bedigian, 2004). compared in values according to their coefficients of determination (R2) and Standard Error of Estimate The harvested fresh green leaves are consumed as a (SEE). Results showed that Page model provided the vegetable mixed with groundnut flour, salt and a little hot best fit for the drying of Ceraotheca sesamoides leaves. water and cooked for a few minutes as soup. Towards the The study also showed that drying process occurred in dry season, harvested leaves can be dried, milled and stored the falling rate period while the drying curve inside bottle, to be reconstituted during its off-season as investigated was characterized by a progressive soup (Burkill, 1997). However, a shift from over decrease in drying time with increase in drying dependence on major food crops and vegetables to temperature. The results of the proximate composition, underutilized edible indigenous crops has been reported to of the dried leaves at varying temperatures showed that enhance food security globally (Prescott-Allen, 1990; crude protein was in the range (23.92-24.15%); total ash Schippers, 1997). Ceratotheca sesamoides leaves are an (6.12-7.53%); moisture content (9.03-9.38%); crude underutilized vegetable with a lot of industrial potential and fibre (8.09-8.22%); fat (2.98-3.08%), and carbohydrate benefits due to its rheological property that can be exploited (48.10-49.63%). Mineral elements analysis of calcium, as binding agent. Generally, green leafy vegetable zinc, phosphorus and iron were also in the range 229.70 constitutes an indispensable constituent of human diet, as it 277.75, 30.85-78.30, 4.38-4.40 and 85.05-185.20 mg/100g, adds to the taste and flavour of the dish, as well as protein, respectively while Vitamin C was found in the range fibre, minerals, and vitamins in substantial amounts 59.29-208.15 mg/100 g. The study provided useful (Fasakin, 2004; Ejoh et al., 2005). In Africa, Ceratotheca information on the optimum drying condition of sesamoid leaves are mostly consumed as cooked Ceratotheca sesamoides and also showed that complements to the major staple foods, like yam, plantains, Ceratotheca sesamoides is an exotic vegetable in terms of guinea corn, cocoyam maize, millet, rice and cassava. The its nutritional composition. amounts of the nutrient constituents and functional properties of the most commonly used leafy vegetable Keywords- Ceratotheca sesamoides, drying kinetics, species in Nigeria have been reported (Fasakin, 2004; proximate composition, minerals, Vitamin C. Famurewa and Akinmuyisitan, 2014). However, Ceratotheca sesamoides leaves remain virtually neglected I. INTRODUCTION and under-exploited despite its domestic and industrial application. Vegetables are highly perishable food crops due to high Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl otherwise called false sesame moisture content which vary between 67-96% (Alonge and is a leafy vegetable in the Pedaliaceae family of plants. It Adeboye, 2012). This condition necessitates for immediate is indigenous in Africa with about five cultivars and grown drying operation as the oldest method of food preservation wildly in most countries especially in sub-Sahara (Abels, that inhibits the microbial, biochemical spoilage and 1975). Some of its local name includes Eku in Yoruba enzymatic reaction (Krokida and Marinos-Kouris, 2003). 456 International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020 Vol. 5, Issue 4, ISSN No. 2455-2143, Pages 442-444 Published Online August 2020 in IJEAST (http://www.ijeast.com) Drying also enhances storage life, minimizes losses during obtained by drying continuously for 24 hours. The storage, and saves shipping and transportation costs experimental data of sample mass (g) against time (t) at (Doymaz, 2005). To determine the drying behaviour of each steady drying temperature were used for plotting vegetables a thin layer drying medium has been famously drying curve and the drying rate curves were obtained by adopted by several researchers (Akpınar et al., 2003). It was method of tangents (Johnson et al., 1998). The moisture observed over decades in Africa, that Ceratotheca contents of the leaves on the wet basis (w.b) and dry basis sesamoides leaves processed by local consumers adopted (d.b) were determined using Equations 1 and 2. The unscientific techniques. Hence investigating appropriate moisture ratio (MR) of the leaves samples was determined drying conditions of this leaves will definitely provide using Equation 3. Drying curves were generated from the adequate post-harvest techniques that will enhance its experimental drying data to plot the graph of moisture ratio appropriate handling, support maximum nutritional versus time (Equation 4). benefits, storage, packaging and industrial application 푐ℎ푎푛푔푒 푛 푚표푠푡푢푟푒 푐표푛푡푒푛푡 (푔) which are yet to be reported. Hence, the objectives of this Drying rate = (1) 푐ℎ푎푛푔푒 푛 푡푚푒 (푡) research were to determine the drying kinetics of Ceratotheca sesamoides leaves using convective oven at varying temperatures and subjected data obtained to widely W− W % Moisture content (db) = s × 100 (2) used drying models and finally determine the proximate and Ws 푊− 푊푠 mineral composition. % 푀표푠푡푢푟푒 푐표푛푡푒푛푡 (푤푏) = × 100 (3) 푊 where; W = weight of dried solid + moisture (g) II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ws = weight of dried solid/ dry bone weight (g) The harvested fresh mature leaves of Ceratotheca M−M sesamoides were obtained from a local farmer in Ile-Ife, MR = e = exp(kt) (4) Mi−Me Osun state. The leaves were identified at Department of where; MR = Moisture ratio, M = Moisture content at any Botany, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, time‘t’ (kg water/ kg dry matter) (% db), Me = Equilibrium Ile-Ife. All chemical reagents used were of analytical moisture content (EMC) at the conditions of the drying air standard. (kg water/ kg dry matter) (% db), Mi = Initial moisture content of sample (kg water/ kg dry matter), (% db), t = 2.1. Sample Preparation Drying time (min) and k = Drying constant (min-1). The leaves were stripped-off from the stems, sorted and graded to remove damaged and extraneous materials then rinsed in clean water and drained. About 150 g of the cleaned leaves was weighed, spread in thin layers on a tray 2.3 Mathematical modelling of drying curves and loaded inside a hot air oven (SM9053, Uniscope, England) operated at air velocity of 0.13 m/s with ambient For this study, eight (8) existing mathematical models air humidity between 0.008 and 0.010 kg/kg dry air. The (Table 1) were used to predict appropriate model that suit drying operation was observed for three different drying curves. These models are: Henderson and Pabis, temperatures (50, 60 and 70 oC) sequentially until constant Page, Modified Page, Logarithmic, Two term, Newton, weight at each temperature was obtained. Loss in weight at Midili and Modified Henderson and Pabis. an interval of an hour was recorded at each steady drying temperature for 24 hrs until bone dry weight was obtained. 2.4 Proximate Composition and Mineral content The dried leaves of three different drying temperatures were determination labelled and kept inside three desiccators with silical gel. Proximate compositions (carbohydrate, protein, fibre, fat The dried leaves were milled separately into fine powder of and ash) were determined using official methods described 100 µm particle size using a blender (Kenwood BL705) for by AOAC (2002). The analysis for mineral elements proximate composition and mineral content determination. (calcium, iron and zinc) of the samples was determined Ceratotheca sesamoides flour was prepared using the using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method procedures reported by (Famurewa and Akinmuyisitan, (Fashakin, 2004). The total phosphorus content was 2014). measured using Auto-analyser and Ascorbic acid content in each sample was determined using titrimetric method 2.2 Drying Kinetics The loss in weight of each sample was obtained at one 10 described by Rekha et al. (2012). min