Chemical Composition of Serendipity Berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii) and Miracle Fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii)

Aims: To determine the chemical composition of serendipity berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii) and miracle fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii).

Study Design: The mean and standard deviation of the data obtained were analyzed.

Place and Duration of Study: Samples were prepared in Department of Food Science and Technology, Osun State Polytechnic, between November 2018 and December 2019.

Methodology: Chemical properties of two natural sweeteners namely the miracle fruit (Thaumatococcus danielli) and serendipity berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii) were studied in this work. The fresh fruits were obtained from a farm, sorted, washed and the tissues were scraped, dried in the oven at 45°C for 12 hrs, milled and packed in airtight plastic containers. Proximate, vitamins and amino acid contents of the sweeteners were determined.

Results: The results revealed that the protein contents of miracle fruit and serendipity berry were 75.57% and 62.54% respectively. Moisture contents of the sweeteners ranged from 56.95-58.33% while ash contents ranged from 19.33-22.90%. The sweeteners had low carbohydrate and lipid contents. Crude fiber was not detected in miracle fruit but serendipity berry had crude fibre of 5.38%. The fruits had β-carotene contents ranging from 8.44 mg/100 g and 23.00 mg/100 g, vitamin C (20.40 mg/100 g and 22.01 mg/100 g) and vitamin D (17.02 mg/100 g and 19.02 mg/100 g) in miracle fruit and serendipity berry respectively. However, low values were recorded for vitamin E 0.55 mg/100 g and 0.89 mg/100 g in miracle fruit and serendipity berry respectively. The fruits had appreciable amount of essential amino acid which was above 50% of the total amino acid content. Miracle fruit had 51.96% and serendipity berry had 58.07% of the essential amino acid. Aromatic essential amino were 10.78 and 12.79% in miracle fruits and serendipity respectively.

Conclusion: This study showed that the two natural sweeteners are good source of essential nutrients and could be used as food supplements in our diet.