Analysis of proximate composition, mineral contents, and anti-nutritional factors of enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces commonly used for amicho preparation in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Implications for food security and mineral bioavailability

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is a primarily starchy staple food crop for over 20 million people. Some landraces are widely favored for amicho (boiled corm) preparation and consumption. However, little information is available on its nutritional profile. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the proximate, mineral, and anti-nutritional contents of the seven commonly consumed corms of the cultivated enset landraces. The proximate was determined using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standard methods. Minerals, phytate, and tannin contents were determined using the different models of spectrophotometer method, and oxalate was analyzed using the standard procedure. Also, the physiochemical parameters and the molar ratios were estimated to the relevant standards. The results revealed that the proximate composition (%) ranged in moisture content from 68.2 to 79.4, crude protein (2.43–11.90), crude fat (0.61–0.89), crude fiber (2.42–4.11), and total ash (2.01–4.60), while the total carbohydrates came to 80.89–89.92, and gross energy was 369.96–385.12 kcal/100 g. The mineral concentrations (mg/100 g) were also varied and ranged: calcium (22.46–49.74), potassium (28.51–86.56), magnesium (16.46–29.34), phosphorus (3.10–13.58), sodium (7.13–8.67), iron (0.9–3.85), and zinc (0.38–1.44) on a dry weight basis. The anti-nutritional contents (mg/100 g) for phytate, tannin, and oxalate ranged from 221.75 to 276.12, 27.97–113.74, and 5.69–9.10, respectively. Hayiwona and Gishira had the highest values in most proximate and minerals than other tested landraces, respectively. Compared to other landraces, Astara had higher total carbohydrate and phytate contents. Except for phytate × calcium to zinc, and oxalate to calcium, the molar ratios were above the critical values, which indicated that the studied enset corms had a considerable phytate value, which reduces mineral bioavailability. Overall, the present study revealed that the corm of the evaluated enset landraces contains appreciable amounts of nutritional value and can subsidize Ethiopia's sustained food security.