Food shortage in Zimbabwe: Can wild cereal grains be an alternative source of nutrition?

Authors

  • K. Chitindingu Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, M. P. 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare Department of Biotechnology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi
  • M.A.N Benhura Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, M. P. 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare
  • M. Muchuweti Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, M. P. 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24297/jac.v7i2.2358

Keywords:

wild cereals, nutritional composition, Amaranthus hybridus, protein, fibre, minerals

Abstract

Cereals are used as staple food in most countries all over the world including Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, poor rainfall patterns have hampered the production of traditional cereals like maize and wheat leading to poverty especially in third world countries. Five wild cereal grains namely; Amaranthus hybridus, Brachiaria brizantha, Panicum maximum, Rottiboellea cochinchinensis and Sorghum arundinaceum were studied to determine their nutritional value because of their drought tolerance. Two domesticated cereals were used for comparison. The macro nutrients determined were proteins, carbohydrates, fats and minerals. Amaranthus hybridus, a wild cereal, had the highest protein and fat content of 21.44% and 11.50% respectively, compared to all the other cereal grains.  Brachiaria brizantha had the highest fibre content of 30.34% while the red variety of Sorghum bicolor had the least fibre content of 2.51%. Phosphorus was detected in all the cereal grains studied. Calcium was detected in all the cereal grains except in red variety of Sorghum bicolor. The nutritional composition of the cereal grains makes them potential alternative food sources.

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Published

2011-12-17

How to Cite

Chitindingu, K., Benhura, M., & Muchuweti, M. (2011). Food shortage in Zimbabwe: Can wild cereal grains be an alternative source of nutrition?. JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY, 7(2), 1300–1307. https://doi.org/10.24297/jac.v7i2.2358

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Articles