ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS ON PTEROCARPUS MILDBRAEDII (OHA) SEED PRESENTED

ABSTRACT

Elemental analysis is the qualitative detection and quantitative determination of chemical elements(atoms,ions)in a sample(Fritz Pregl 1923). To detect an element, one should fix an appearance of an analytical signal. The formation of precipitate or characteristic crystals, colour change, an isolation of gaseous products, an appearance of a definite lines in spectrum, luminescence, etc. To determine elements quantity, it is necessary to measure a value of an analytical signal; a precipitate mass, intensity of a current, solution absorption, spectrum line, luminescence or radioactivity, a reaction rate and so on.

This study was undertaken to analyse the elements present in grounded Pterocarpus mildbraedii (Oha seed) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer(AAS MODEL-AA320N).The seed was found to contain these essential macro minerals/elements sodium(Na),Potassium(K),calcium(Ca),magnesium(Mg),and the trace elements iron(Fe),copper(Cu),zinc(Zn), and selenium(Se)(Duffus,2002).

The study established that Pterocarpus mildbraedii(oha seed) does not contain manganese and has high content of potassium which is necessary for good health.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

A seed or mature ovule is a miniature plant with a protective cover in a suspended state of development. Most seeds contain a built-in food supply called endosperm, orchid is an exception. The endosperm can be made up of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Seed can also be defined as a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant(Wikipedia).Seed protects a plant embryo so that it can grow into a new plant. Many seeds are edible, such as sunflower seeds, tomato seeds, corn and peas.

Seeds contain three distinct structures. The inside of a seed contains an embryo, which is a baby plant with a shoot and a tiny root. The two halves of a seed are stored food that provides the nourishment necessary for seeds to germinate, or begin growing. Surrounding the seed is a hard, tough seed coat, which protects the seed during dormancy(Anville 2007).

Most seeds contain a built-in food supply called endosperm. The endosperm can be made up of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Seeds also contain anti-nutrients in their seed coat. These anti-nutrients includes phytin, lectin, trypsin inhibitor activity, tannin and cyanide. In addition, they also contain minerals such as sodium, potassium,calcium,magnesium,phosphorus,zinc,manganese,iron,selenium and copper.(Balogun 2000) Oilseeds are energy dense foods; for example, sesame seeds provide 600kcal or 2470kj/1000g.Although oilseeds contain protein(|14-32g/100g)and carbohydrate(ranging from less than 1g/100g to more than 34g/100g),most of the food energy they provide is as fat(which provides 9kcal or 37kj/g).Oilseeds vary widely in their fatty acid composition but tend to be rich in MUFA(e.g peanut)r PUFA(e.g sunflower seeds).Some seed oils contain significant amounts of EFA, ALNA, an n-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid(LA),an n-6 fatty acid. from these two fatty acids, the body can make all the fatty acids it needs. From LA, arachidonic acid can be produced, and from ALNA the long chain n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)can be made.(BNF 1999).

Generally, whole oilseeds are a source of fibre, phosphorus, iron and magnesium; many oilseeds are a source of vitamin E(an antioxidant),niacin and folate. Whole oilseeds also contain phytoestrogens, a group of substances including lignans and isoflavones. Phytoestrogens have a structure similar to the oestrogen hormone oestradiol and can bind to oestrogen receptors.Phytoestrogens may provide a protective effect against coronary heart disease as they have been shown to have a lowering effect on blood cholesterol.Additionally,some phytoestrogens may have antioxidant properties(Goldberg 2003).

In Britain, oilseeds are usually consumed, following processing,as oils and margarines. The fatty acid composition of oils produced from oilseeds varies widely. Vegetable oils do not contain the same levels of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals as whole oilseeds. In fact, apart from fat itself, vitamin E is the only nutrient present in appreciable amounts. Vegetable oils do, however, contain a range of phytochemicals, e.g they are the main source of natural plant sterols in the diet. Plant sterols have a structure similar to cholesterol and hence reduce cholesterol absorption, therefore reducing the circulating levels of total and low density lipoprotein(LDL)cholesterol. Plant sterols can be present as free or esterified forms and the proportions vary, e.g free sterols dominate in soybean,olive and sunflower oil,while in rapeseed and corn oil, free sterols account for only 30% of the plant sterols.Refining vegetable oils decreases the content of sterols(from 10-70% depending on the oil and processing conditions used),thus decreasing their potential to lower serum cholesterol(Goldberg 2003).

To determine the elements present in grinded oha seed(Pterocarpus mildbraedii)

1.3   RESEARCH OBJECTIVE;

This study was primarily designed to use grinded oha seed(Pterocarpus mildbraedii) extract for elemental analysis.

REFERENCES

Adam Drewnowski (2010) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.91 (suppl):10955-11015.

Ann 1st Super Sanita.(1995) Trace elements: biological role and nutritional Aspects for humans. -Pubmed-NCBI.

Ajibesin, K.K., Bala, D.N., Ekpo, B.A.J.& Adesanya, S.A.,(2002).Toxicity of Some plants implicated as poisons in Nigerian ethnomedicine to Rats. Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicines 6:8-10.

A.K. Katz, J.P. Glusker, S.A. Beebe and C. W. Bock. Calcium ion coordination: A comparison with that of beryllium,magnesium and zinc.J.Amer.Chem. Soc.,(1996),118,5752-5763.

Akinnifesi,F.K.,Kang,B.T & Ladipo,D.O.,(1998).Structural root form and fine root Distribution of some woody species evaluated for agroforestry systems. Agroforestry systems 42:121-138.

Akpanyung,E.O.,Udoh,A.P & Akpan,E.J.,(1995).Chemical composition of the Edible leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedii. Plant Foods and Human Nutrition 48(3):209-215.

A. S. Mildvan.Metals in enzymes catalysis,In “The Enzymes, “P. D. Boyer,ed., Academic Press:New York,(1970);Vol. 2,pp. 446-536.

Berzelius,J. J.(1818) “Lettre de M. Berzelius a M. Berthollet sur deux métaux Nouveaux” (Letter from Mr.Berzelius to Mr. Berthollet on two new Metals),Annales de chimie et de physique,series 2,vol. 7,pp. 199-206.

BNF (British Nutrition Foundation) (1992) Unsaturated Fatty Acids. Nutritional and Physiological Significance.The Report of the British Nutrition Foundation, London.

Burkill,H.M.,(1995).The useful plants of West Tropical Africa.2nd Edition. Volume 3,Families J-L.Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew,United Kingdom. 857 pp

C. W. Bock,A. K. Katz, G. D. Markham and J. P. Glusker.Manganese as a Replacement for magnesium and zinc: functional comparison of the Divalent metal ions.

J. Amer. Chem. Soc.,(1999), 703,121, 7360-7372.

Fritz Pregl (1928) Principle of Elemental Analysis.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Copper.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Selenium.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Manganese.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Zinc.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Magnesium.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Potassium.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Iron.

George Mateljan Foundation.(2009).Human Nutrition: Calcium.

Greenwood, Norman N.;Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.).Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 751-752.ISBN 0080379419.

Http://www.springer.com/978-3-642-02435-1.

Http://www.goggles.com./map of Nigeria showing Enugu/Location of Emene in Enugu.

House, James E. (2008). Inorganic Chemistry. Academic Press. P.524. ISBN 0-12-356786-6.

Housecroft CE, Sharpe AG (2008) Inorganic Chemistry. Prentice Hall,Hallow.

Iyengar,G.V.;Kollmer, W. E.,and Bowen, H.J.M. (1978).The Elemental Composition of Human Tissues and Body Fluids. Weinheim,New York:Verlag Chemie.ISBN 0-89573-003-0.

Kellner R,Mermet J. M.,Otto M.,Widmer H. M.,(1998) Analytical Chemistry. Ed.916pp.

Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon University: Retrieved 2008-11-29.

Lippard, Stephen J; Jeremy M. Berg (1994). Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry. Mill Valley, CA:University Science Books.p.411. ISBN 0-935702-72-5.

Mazor L (1986) Methods of organic analysis.584pp.Budiapest.Academiai Kiado.

Muller U (2007) Inorganic Structural Chemistry.John Wiley,Chichefster.

Nelson, David L; Micheal M. Cox (2000-02-15).Lehninger Principles of

Biochemistry,Third Edition (3 Har/com ed.).W.H.Freeman.p.1200. ISBN 1-57259-931-6.

Pearson RG (1968) Hard and soft acids HSAB. 1. Fundamental principles.J.Chem. Educ.45-581-587.

Poschenrieder C, Barcelo J (2004) Water relations in heavy metal stressed plants. In:Prasad MNV (ed) Heavy metal stress in plants,3rd edn.Springer,Berlin, pp.249-270.

Rengel Z (2004) Heavy metals as essential nutrients. In: Prasad MNV (ed)

Heavy metal stress in plants,3rd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 271-294.

Rojo,J.P. & Alonzo,D.S.,(1993).Pterocarpus Jacq.In:Soerianegara,I. & Lemmns,R.H,M,J.(Editors) Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 5(1).

Timber trees;Major commercial timbers.Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen,Netherlands.pp.374-379.

Sharma RJ,Agrawal M (2005) Biological effects of heavy metals:An overview. J. Exp Bot 26 (2 suppl):301-313.

Shaw BP,Sahu SK,Mishra RK (2004) In:Prasad MNV (ed) Heavy metal stress in Plants 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp.84-126.

Skinner, H. C. W. (2005) “Biominerals”.Mineralogical Magazine 69(5):621-641.

Trofast,Jan (2011) “Berzelius Discovery of Selenium”.Chemistry International 33 (5): 16-19.PDF.

Valberg,L. S;Holt, J. M., Paulson,E., and Szivek, J. (1965) “Spectrochemical Analysis of Na,K,Ca,Mg,Cu,and Zn in Normal Human Erythrocytes” Journal of Clinical Investigation 44 (3):379-389.

Van Assche F,Clijsters H (1990) Effects of heavy metals on enzyme activity in Plants.Plant cell Environ 13:195-206.

Weeks, Mary Elvira (1932) “The discovery of the elements . VI. Tellurium and Selenium”. Journal of Chemical Education 9 (3): 474.

Wiberg, Egon; Wiberg,Nils and Holleman, Arnold Frederick (2001) Inorganic Chemistry. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 583. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.

Request Complete Work