Proximate and Mineral Compositions of Dioscorea rotundata (White Yam) and Colocasia esculenta (White Cocoyam)

Abstract

Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) and Colocasia esculenta (white cocoyam) were analyzed for their proximate and mineral compositions. The result showed that Dioscorea rotundata has a moisture content 54.50%, ash content 1.4%, crude fat content 2.70%, crude protein content 0.087%, crude fibre content 0.70%, carbohydrate content 40.61%, available energy 731.75 kJ; while Colocasia esculenta has moisture content 38.50%, ash content 1.60%, crude fat content 1.05%, crude protein content 0.066% crude fibre content 1.0%, carbohydrate content 57.78%, available energy 1022.27 kJ. The mineral content of the analyzed samples showed that Dioscorea rotundata and Colocasia esculenta were rich in iron of values 81.85 mg/100 g and 59.07 mg/100 g respectively. The copper content of the samples were 10.06 mg/100 g and 6.72 mg/100 g for Dioscorea rotundata and Colocasia esculenta respectively.