Total Phenol, Percentage Antioxidant Activities, Selected Vitamins and Mineral Elements Constituents of Raw, Processed and Stored Aframomum sceptrum Seeds

Aframomum septrum seeds are used as additive in food and many enthnomedicinal preparations. This study investigated Aframomum sceptrum seeds procured from open markets in Benin City, Edo State, for total phenols, copper [Cu], Cobalt [Co], Zinc [Zn], Fe [Fe]; vitamin C [ascorbic acid] and pantothenic acid. Also, its percentage antioxidant activity was determined. Processing involving sun drying and grinding, then storage in the open laboratory and at water activities [aw] of 0.23, 0.52, and 0.92, studies were also carried out. All storage was done in ambient conditions. Samples were stored for two months. All determinations were made in accordance with standard methods. Findings showed that in raw Aframomum sceptrum seeds total phenols level was 1.26±0.41mg/g; percentage antioxidant activity was 94.28±1.17%; ascorbic acid was 13.941±0.885; pantothenic acid was 1.985±0.113. The range of values obtained for the mineral elements was Cu [4.369±1.287 to 7.667±1.287] mg/kg; Co [0.124±0.008 to 0.362±0.106] mg/kg; Zn [6.533±0.214 to 14.713±1.679] mg/kg; [12.170±0.613 to 19.280±1.083] mg/kg and Na [3.073±0.247 to 5.687±0.709] mg/kg. Processing and storage led to increases in total phenols, but led to reduction in antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid and pantothenic acid. Statistically, the storage changes noted with phenol investigations were at P