A Comparative Analysis of the Nutritional and Chemical composition of six West African Medicinal Fruits

: Background: Many nations can no longer afford the ever rising cost of healthcare, governments across the world are in search of alternative and affordable ways of disease control. Clinical studies are revealing hope from herbs. Objectives: A comparative analysis of the nutritional and chemical composition of six fruits used for treating many diseases in West Africa; to examine the composition, concentration and education for easy choice of suitable fruits based on peculiar situations as well as to provide easy access of consensus evidence to busy healthcare practitioners. Also, clinical evidence of plant medicine is not as much as modern medicine and education is necessary. Methods: A systematic review investigation. Theory is a Community approach to intervention services. Search engines were Google scholar, Firefox and Google. Results: Macro and micronutrients were present in the plants. Moisture was high in all but, Tetrapleura tetraptera . Anacardium occidentale , 86.00g/100 g/dry weight showed highest carbohydrates concentration, Annona muricata was lowest, 14.63%. Crude protein was generally low in all the plants, Chrysophyllum albidum scored highest, 7.00%, Annona muricata scored lowest, 1.00%. Fat was generally low in all, highest fat, 4.00% occurred in Tetrapleura tetraptera and least, 0.88% in Annona muricata. Fibre concentration ranges from low to high. The highest fibre occurred in Tetrapleura tetraptera, 45.00% and the least in Mangifera indica , 1.80%. Ash was excessively high, 60.00% in Annona muricata , Mangifera indica came last with a score of 1.95%. Outcome will be beneficial to users. Conclusion: The fruits were rich in nutrients with nutraceutical and pharmacological properties, justifying its use as native medicine.


INTRODUCTION
There is a rising cost of providing healthcare to communities across the world including the rich countries, Average health care spending per person in the United States, $15,275 CAD, next was Germany, $8,938 CAD, Netherlands, $7,973 CAD, Canada, $7,507 CAD, Sweden, $7,416 CAD and Australia, $7,248 Cad (56).Many countries are now seeking alternative ways to restore health to cut down costs.Plants used in Africa for controlling diseases are promising, and the rising demand for alternative medicines worldwide necessitated a need for this research essentially, as 80% of poor populations in developing countries carry a heavy burden of healthcare costs, which often comes from individuals' purses.Also, side and adverse effects of some drugs are standing in the way too.Clinical evidence showed that natural remedies when properly administered not only show small and no side effects, they are nutritionally rich, with pharmacological properties, which possess the capacity to restore health.In this systematic review, the authors sought to determine the nutritional and chemical composition of six popular plants used as traditional medicine for treating disease in West Africa namely, Anacardium occidentale, Ananocia muricata, Mangifera indica, Carica papaya, Chrysophyllum albidum and Tetrapleura tetraptera.The fruits were ranked based upon the nutritional and chemical concentration to promote right choices for various body conditions.For a reason that evidence has suggested that the fruits possess nutritional and chemical compositions, which have strong potency against diseases and not all health conditions need very strong potent remedies to treat, some may need something mild or moderate.Thus, the levels of nutrient and chemical concentration of each was determined.The purpose was to inform users, which include the public, health practitioners, researchers, farmers, manufacturers and policy decision makers.

METHODOLOGY
This is a systematic review.This research determined the nutritional and chemical composition of six fruits used as native medicines for treating various diseases in West Africa and made a comparative analysis of the nutritional and chemical composition of the fruits studied such as, Anacardium occidentale, Annona muricata, Mangifera indica, Carica papaya, Chrysophyllum albidum and Tetrapleura tetraptera.Search engines used for the search were google scholar, Bing, Firefox, Google.The articles examined were peer reviewed articles that investigated the compositions of the fruits.The search words were, "Mangifera indica, Carica papaya, Anacardium occidentale, Chrysophyllum albidum, Tetrapleura tetraptera, and Annona muricata, fruits chemical composition, and specific nutrient such as, "Iodine composition of specific plant".Vitamin B1 composition of Annona muricata" Only peer reviewed articles were selected and included in the data used for this investigational analyses.Conditions for exclusion, non peer reviewed and article not available online.The nutritional and chemical composition of the fruits were analyzed and synthesized comparatively.

Results
A rich concentrations of some macro and micronutrients were found in the fruits, which clinical evidence suggested to have nutraceutical and pharmaceutical capacities that supports its use as native medicines for various diseases management.Authors deemed the need for proper education as essential to fill gaps and prompt attention of users for right use.A comparative synthesis of the findings were presented in four subheadings such as, macronutrient, micronutrient minerals, trace elements, and micronutrient vitamins.Tables 1-3 contains details of the nutrient and chemical compositions of the fruits, which were comparatively synthesized.Nickel (N) was not found in all the fruits but in Chrysophyllum albidum, 5.00 mg/kg.

DISCUSSION
The fruits were rich in vitamins essentially, vitamins A, C and E which are powerful antioxidants.While vitamins generally provide nutritional and biochemical functions in the body to keep the body safe and healthy, antioxidants scavenge free radicals, neutralize its harmful effects to the body and protect the body from cell oxidation.Free radicals do significant harm to the genetic composition of human beings called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and cell oxidation for a long period of time lays the foundation for the body to develop metabolic syndrome diseases namely cancer, diabetes, coronary heart diseases.Antioxidants prevent inflammation, spasm and growth of microorganisms (51,52,53,55).Vitamin E is essential for female and male reproductive health and vitamin A is essential for growth, eye and reproductive health.Thus, the use of the fruits will provide nutrients for the body and keep the body healthy (51,52,53,55).Additionally, new clinical studies have suggested that vitamin E lowered conditions susceptible to aging.One hundred, 100 g of cashew nuts contains 46 mg of vitamin E (46 mg/100 g).Vitamin E of Cashew nut offers extraordinary strength to the body, it is useful in the treatment of premature aging, skin remineralization, lines and wrinkle prevention in the face (54,55).
There were large concentrations of macronutrients in all the fruits namely, moisture, carbohydrates, protein, lipids, fibre and ash, which are essential for body nourishment and disease prevention.And health restoration in situations of nutrients' deficiencies (51,52,53).
The fruits were composed of moderately high amounts of minerals and some of the minerals have both nutritional and pharmacological properties and values.For example the fruits are high in iron and iron is an essential component of haemoglobin, which plays a vital role in the oxygenation of red blood cells.Low levels of iron in the blood result in anemia (51,52,53).The fruit contains zinc, which is involved in many metabolic activities in the body.It is needed for female and male reproduction, as well as fertility and sex organ health.Sodium (Na) and potassium (K), which regulates the body fluid and acid-base balance in the body were found in all the fruits.Calcium concentration of each fruit varied.Calcium works jointly with vitamin D as well as phosphorus and protein to perform various metabolic functions in the body.Calcium is good for healthy bones and teeth.Deficiency of calcium causes osteoporosis in humans and animals, rickets in children and diabetes across ages (51,52,53).
Moderate to high fibre composition of the fruits make the fruits very suitable food for the body.High fibre diet lowers the risks of metabolic syndrome diseases namely, type II diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.High fibre diet reduces blood sugar and lipids levels and significant reduction in weight.Fibre has both nutritional and pharmacological properties and values (51,52,53,54).

CONCLUSION
All the fruits constituted macronutrients in significant amount, which are capable of satisfying the nutritional needs of human being and animals alike.Moderate to high concentration of micronutrients minerals in most of the fruits indicated that fruits possess nutraceutical and pharmacological properties.Clinical evidence suggested that the minerals have a capacity for health restoration.The micronutrient vitamins were reported in some of the plants and the vitamins reported in some of the plants were suggested by evidence to possess a capacity to restore health to the body.The presence of nutrients in varying concentrations provides a clue for easy choices based on suitability of needs.General public, researchers, public health, health practitioners, farmers, manufacturers, investors and policy decision makers are to benefit from the findings.

2581-8341 Volume 06 Issue 10 October 2023 DOI: 10.47191/ijcsrr/V6-i10-34, Impact Factor: 6.789 IJCSRR @ 2023 6811
Boron (B) was not found in all the fruits but two, namely, Tetrapleura tetraptera, with highest level, 3.69 mg/kg and Carica papaya with the lowest score of 0.10 mg/kg.Selenium (Se) was not found in Anacardium occidentale, and Annona muricata, it was found in Mangifera indica, least score occurred in Carica papaya, 0.60 mg/kg, the concentration in Tetrapleura tetraptera, 2.97 mg/kg was higher than the level in Carica papaya, the largest amount, 2.97 mg/kg was found in Chrysophyllum albidum.
* Corresponding Author: N. E. Ahajumobi Volume 06 Issue 10 October 2023 Available at: www.ijcsrr.orgPage No. 6807-6818 Cobalt (Co) was not found in all fruits but two namely, Chrysophyllum albidum, 1.20 mg/kg with the lowest score and Tetrapleura tetraptera, with the highest score of 44.00 mg/100 g.Chromium (Cr) was not found in Tetrapleura tetraptera, but occurred in the rest, though at low concentrations, with a highest score in Chrysophyllum albidum, 1.90 mg/kg, then, Annona muricata, 0.79 mg/kg, next was Carica papaya, 0.71 mg/kg, and Anacardium occidentale, and Mangifera indica with almost bracket scores of 0.03 and 0.02 mg /kg, respectively.

Ahajumobi Volume 06 Issue 10 October 2023 Available at: www.ijcsrr.org Page No. 6807-6818
Vitamin K was reported in three fruits only and none was reported in three namely, Anacardium occidentale, Annona muricata, and Tetrapleura tetraptera.It occurred only in three with the highest score, 35.36 mg/100 g occurring in Chrysophyllum albidum, next was Mangifera indica, 4.20 ug/100 g and Carica papaya, 2.60 ug/100 g with lowest score.Choline was indicated in two fruits only but the quantities were not mentioned.The fruits were Mangifera indica and Carica papaya.Lycopene was found in two fruits only, Anacardium occidentale, with lowest score of 294.50.80 mg/100 g and Carica papaya with highest score of 1928.00 mg/100 g.Lutein and zeaxanthin was reported only in one fruit, Carica papaya, 89.00 ug/100 g.