A Comparative Study of Vitamin C Concentrations in Two Selected Wild Fruits in Itojo Sub-County Ntungamo District.
The human body does not store vitamin C, making it essential to include vitamin C-rich fruits in daily diets for overall health. However, people residing in the rural areas of Itojo sub-county, Ntungamo District, lack access to commonly consumed fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, lemons, and...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_US |
| Published: |
Kabale University
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2082 |
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| Summary: | The human body does not store vitamin C, making it essential to include vitamin C-rich fruits in daily diets for overall health. However, people residing in the rural areas of Itojo sub-county, Ntungamo District, lack access to commonly consumed fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, lemons, and mangoes, as these fruits are typically available in urban market centers where they are sold. Furthermore, rural residents often lack the financial means to purchase such fruits from markets and supermarkets.
This research aimed to investigate and compare the vitamin C concentrations in two selected wild fruits: Horn melon (Cucumis metuliferus) and Seed of heaven fruit (Aframomum spp.), which grow naturally in the rural areas of Itojo sub-county, Ntungamo District. The vitamin C concentrations in these fruits were determined through redox titration of vitamin extracts from the wild fruits against potassium iodate solution with a starch indicator. The volume of potassium iodate solution required to reach the endpoint was measured and recorded, allowing calculation of the vitamin C concentrations in the extracts obtained from the wild fruits.
The study revealed that the vitamin C concentrations in three different varieties of Horn melon (X1, X2, and X3) were 7.02 mg/100g, 7.39 mg/100g, and 6.49 mg/100g, respectively. In comparison, the concentrations in three varieties of Seed of Heaven fruit (Y1, Y2, and Y3) were 23.23 mg/100g, 21.65 mg/100g, and 24.82 mg/100g, respectively. Thus, the study concluded that the vitamin C concentration in Seed of heaven fruit was nearly three times higher than that in Horn melon fruits. |
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