Nutrient and Heavy Metal Composition of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) and Banana (Musa paradisiaca) Peels

Abstract

The total protein, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorous (P), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) composition of the peels of unripe plantain, ripe plantain, unripe banana and ripe banana were investigated using standard techniques. All the peel samples studied contained considerable amounts of Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Zn, Cu, and protein while the amount of Pb in all the peel samples were quite low to cause any deleterious effects. The study showed the nutritional and medicinal relevance of the peels of these plants.