Nutritional Evaluation of Some Selected Fruits (Pyrus Malus, Psidium Guajava, Musa Paradisiaca, Citrus Maxima) Available in Local Market of Sargodha City of Pakistan

Author(s) : Mujahid Hussain, Mehwish Maqbool, Muhammad Ishtiaq

Abstract:

Naturally grown fruits are the nutritional powerhouses in our daily diet which makes our health better. The local fruits are accessible, cheap and reliable without any contamination. These fruits fulfill nutritional deficiency without making person obese and protect us from many chronic diseases include cancer, heart attacks and diabetes. The nutrition taken from fruits makes our immune system (internal army) strong thus complementing protection against viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens. The present study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional composition of some selected fruits Pyrus malus (apple), Psidium guajava (guava), Musa paradisiaca (banana), Citrus maxima (pomelo) available in local markets of Sargodha, Pakistan. Result showed that the highest amount of moisture (86.16±0.91%) and crude fat (3.92±0.14%) was noted in apple while the highest amount of mineral matter (7.11±0.93%), carbohydrates (15.64±0.31%) and dry matter (23.68±1.02%) was observed in banana. Maximum crude fiber (1.82±0.14%) and crude protein (0.56±1.57%) was observed in pomelo and guava respectively. Fluctuation in nutritional composition of fruits was may attributed to varietal (genetic makeup) as well as agro-climatic conditions of the fruit harvest. There is further study recommended to investigate the impact of different climates and fertilizers on nutritional values of cultivated fruit varieties.