The Physico-Chemical And Antioxidant Properties Of Culinary Herbs And Local Spies
Abstract
The Physico-Chemical And Antioxidant Properties Of Culinary Herbs And Local Spies a comparative study was done on the physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of some culinary herbs and local spices. Piper Guiness (Uziza), Xylopia aethopica (Uda), Monodora Myristica (Ehuru) and Trtraleura Tetraopera (Oshsho). The proximate analysis of these spices were done to determine their moisture content, ash content, crude fat crude fibre and protein content. Extraction of the Oleorasin from the spices and soybean oil were done using soxhlet extraction unit with hexane as solvent. Imi of each of the Oleorasin samples of the spices was pipette into 100ml of soybean oil into four different test tubes labeled A,B, C and D. sample E contains 100ml of soybean oil with 150ppm of Butylated Hydroxyl toluene while the untreated soybean oil (sample F) was used as the control.
The test-tube were shaked, plugged with cottonwood and kept at room temperature in a rack. The peroxide value of the sample were monitored for tightly for eight weeks, the thiobarbituric acid 9TBA) value were also determined on the tenth and twelfth weeks respectively. The peroxide value of the sample for the eighth week were recorded as follows: A (10), B (8) C (8), D (11), E (10) and F (22) respectively. From these results, it shows that all the spices were below the range of detectable rancidity. (i.e. between 20 to 40m Eg/kg). the thiobarbituric aid (TBA) value were recorded, for the twelfth week as follows: A (0.033), B (0.005), C (0.004), D (0.046), E (0.776) and F (2.503) respectively. Sample C Monodora Myristica (Ehuru) had the lowest Pv and TBA value, thus the best species with antioxidant property. When compared with other spices and even the artificial antioxidant, followed by sample B Xylopia aethiopica.
Conclusion
Current research on the impact of preparative and digestive processes on the bioactive properties of culinary herbs and spices has shed some light on their potential benefits. However, further work is needed to fully understand if the low bioavailability of polyphenols from these foods really limits their health benefits. Furthermore, there is very little understanding of the impact of combining these foods on their bioactivity. Ultimately, it is the use of a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods that will determine the true health benefits of culinary herbs and spices and the contributory role of their constituent polyphenols..
