PROXIMATE, MINERAL COMPOSITION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSES OF TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA) POWDER

Abstract

This study focused on the proximate, minerals and phytochemical composition of turmeric powder extracts. Proximate composition of turmeric showed moisture, dry matter, protein, fibre, ether extract, ash and carbohydrate content of 5.59, 94.41, 8.73, 7.06, 5.61, 5.06 and 67.95 % respectively. The results showed that the rhizome powder contains appreciable and high qualities crude protein and carbohydrates of 8.73% and 67.95% respectively. The ether extract and ash of turmeric extract revealed the presence of phytate and oxalate. The phytochemical screenings of turmeric for various phytochemical constituents were conducted using laboratory mDethod. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence and quantitative analysis of alkaloid, flavonoid, glycoside, saponin, steroid, phenol, tannin, terpenoid and anthocyanin (3.21, 5.67, 1.05, 5.21, 5.42, 6.24, 2.45, 4.76, 1.78 mg/100g respectively ) in the plants while carotenoid was not tested. The mineral composition analysis (ppm) ofturmeric rhizome indicates the presence of calcium (3.40), potassium (1.95), magnesium (0.90), zinc (0.44), phosphorous (1.85) and iron (0.20). The presence of nutrients proves that turmeric powder can be used as food supplement.