ABSTRACT

A comparative analysis of the ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) content of some Nigeria fruits were carried out. The fruits analyzed were (Orange) Citrus Sinensis  and  (pineapple) Ananas cosmosus,  the fruits were bought at Abakpa market Enugu. Enugu state. The fruits were blended and the filtrates were used for the analysis. The ascorbic acid content of the fruits were analyzed titrimetrically. The result showed that (orange) Citrus sinensis contained 0.044mg/ml and (pineapple) Ananas Cosmosus contained 0.032mg/ml of Ascorbic acid content. This (orange) Citrus sinensis has a higher ascorbic acid content than the (pineapple) Ananas consmosus.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0INTRODUCTION

Vitamins are organic substances found in most natural foods in rather small amounts and required by the organism in also small amount for the conduct of several chemical and biochemical processes on which the attainment of good nutritional health depends. It can also be defined as organic compounds which occurs in natural foods stuffs, either as such or as utilizable precursors, and which are necessary usually in minutes amounts for normal growth maintenance, reproduction and health in animals (Seck and Crouzet 1981).

They differ from other organic compounds of the diet in that they do not enter into the structure of tissues (at least in the normal sense , although certain of them may function by stabilizing the integrity of cell membranes) nor do they undergo metabolism to provide energy. The discovering of vitamins the so-called accessory food factors is one of the great achievement of the 20th century. This great contribution to the science of animal and human nutrition was, in the main conceived in terms of modern chemistry and production virtually with the spam of one  generation. Although nutritional deficiency diseases such as scurvy and rickets has been down for centuries, their causes were either unknown or wrapped in mystery and also their treatment remains empirical (Widengren et al 2007).

However, even in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was recognized that some diseases were related to diet.

Dumes J. B. A (1800 to 1994) seems to have been the first practical scientist to question the adequacy of human diet based solely on protein, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. By 1900 several scientists all over the world carried out experiments that led to the conclusion that purified diets were unable to support life and production in animals as diverse as  rats, chicks, and for vital processes (Davies, et al 1991).

In 1902, the theory that beriberi, scurvy, pellagra and perhaps rickets were nutritional diseases caused by lack  of special substances which are of the nature of organic bases which were called vitamins.

The concept took some years to establish but opened the way for modern nutritional research. By the end of the next four decades nearly all the presently known vitamins were discovered, isolated, identified and synthesized.

1.1  OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

  This project work is aimed at estimating the ascorbic acid contents  of various Nigeria fruits viz Citrus sinensis  and Ananas consumes  and also to compare the ascorbic acid level of the Nigeria fruits analyzed.

1.2STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 Ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin required in the body for the up keep of all enzymatic actions, healing of wound, regeneration of body cells.

The deficiency of (vitamin C) Ascorbic acid in the body leads to a diseases condition know as scurvy. When not properly treated it predispose the affected individual to tooth decay and fallen of teeth, brittle bones and inability of wounds to heal. Fruits are the main source of (vitamin C) Ascorbic acid some fruits contain more Ascorbic and than others.

1.3JUSTIFICATION

Ascorbic acid deficiency leads to scurvy. Fruits are the main source of ascorbic acid especially citus fruits . while some fruits contain more ascorbic acid than others, there is need o evaluate ascorbic acid than citrus fruits, this helps to increase the sources of ascorbic acid as well as reduces scurvy in individuals.

1.4HYPOTHESIS

(Orange) Citrus sinensis  and (pineapple) Ananas cosmosus  contains ascorbic acid.

5.1LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The management failure of scurvy may be due to the role of ascorbic acid in collagen formation; the polyneuritis of beriberi cannot be explained in terms of diminished pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Thus the three D’S of pellagra (Diarrhea, determatitis and demention) cannot in terms of the function of the pyridine nucleotides (Lachapelle and Drouin, 2010).

 The need manifestation of many deficiencies presumably reflects failure of certain metabolic activities in which the essential nutrients are involved, but the basis for the relationship is known.    

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