Nnamnso Gabriel Charlie and Enobong Okon Umoh*

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, P. M. B., 1167, Uyo, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Enobong Okon Umoh, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, P. M. B., 1167, Uyo, Nigeria.

Received: May 18, 2026; Published: July 14, 2026

Abstract

This study was carried out to comparatively evaluate the effect of different processing methods: oven drying and sun drying, on the mineral elements composition and functional properties of two varieties of cocoyam: Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium. Fresh cocoyam tubers from both Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium varieties were processed into flour, the mineral content and functional properties of flour samples were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Results obtained indicate that mineral composition of oven-dried Colocasia esculenta sample were 28.53mg/100g calcium, 615.97mg/100g potassium, 32.87mg/100g magnesium, 87.47mg/100g phosphorus and 1.35mg/100g iron. Oven-dried Xanthosoma sagittifolium sample had 23.03mg/100g calcium, 529.13mg/100g potassium, 24.03mg/100g magnesium, 79.31mg/100g phosphorus and 0.979mg/100g iron. Sun-dried Colocasia esculenta sample recorded 34.33mg/100g calcium, 691.00mg/100g potassium, 36.57mg/100g magnesium, 81.37mg/100g phosphorus and 1.70mg/100g iron. Sun-dried Xanthosoma sagittifolium sample had 28.49mg/100g calcium, 618.10mg/100g potassium, 32.97mg/100g magnesium, 84.70mg/100g phosphorus and 1.45mg/100g iron. Functional properties of oven-dried Colocasia esculenta were 2.300 g/ml water absorption capacity, 1.400 g/ml oil absorption capacity, 0.793 g/ml bulk density, 10.60% swelling power and 169.467 m2/s. Oven-dried Xanthosoma sagittifolium had 1.933 g/ml water absorption capacity, 1.267 g/ml oil absorption capacity, 0.630 g/ml bulk density, 9.70% swelling power and 172.967 m2/s viscosity. Sun-dried Colocasia esculenta sample recorded 2.577 g/ml water absorption capacity, 1.883 g/ml oil absorption capacity, 0.740 g/ml bulk density, 6.40% swelling power and 164.633 m2/s viscosity. Sun-dried Xanthosoma sagittifolium had 2.370 g/ml water absorption capacity, 1.767 g/ml oil absorption capacity, 0.74 g/ml bulk density, 6.40% swelling power and 151.37 m2/s viscosity. Statistical significance was adjudged at p < 0.05. Processing method significantly alters the final profile, indicating that value addition to cocoyam must be species- and application specific. There is no single best method; rather, the choice depends on whether the priority is maximizing mineral content (favouring sun drying) or achieving high viscosity/swelling (favouring oven drying for Colocasia esculenta).

Keywords: Processing Methods; Functional Properties; Mineral Composition; Cocoyam Flour; Oven Drying; Sun Drying

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Citation

Citation: Nnamnso Gabriel Charlie and Enobong Okon Umoh. “Comparative Study on the Effect Of Processing Methods on the Mineral Composition and Functional Properties of Two Varieties of Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Flour". Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.7 (2026): 37-42.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Nnamnso Gabriel Charlie and Enobong Okon Umoh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.