Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Profiles of Three Edible Snail Species in Awka Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Three different fleshy snail species namely Achatina achatina (A. achatina), Achatina fulica (A. fulica), and Limicolaria specie (Limicolaria sp.), available within Awka Metropolis, Anambra State were subjected to analytical assessment of the nutrition and anti nutritional composition as a measure to appreciate their contribution to human food/meat. The proximate evaluation was carried out by adoption of standard analytical procedure as established by AOAC, Official Methods of Analysis, 17th edition. The mineral contents of the snail samples were determined using AAS. Identification and quantitative determination of anti-nutrients were done via gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) methods. The results showed Limicolaria sp had the highest crude protein (5.25%) followed by Achatina achatina (4.90%) with least, 4.55% crude fibre associated with Achatina Fulica sp. The fat contents were relatively the same for the three species ranging from 7.15 – 7.94%. The carbohydrate values of Achatina achatina and Limicolaria sp were within 64% range while A. Fulica was 42.5%. The trend observed in the average essential mineral content was Na(2.936ppm) > Mg(1.531ppm) > Ca(1.350ppm) > K(1.261ppm) > Fe(0.039ppm) while heavy metals Pb(0.024ppm < Cd(0.107ppm). Strong presence of Tannin, Terpenoid and cardiac glycoside were observed for A.achatina. Presence of flavonoid and alkaloid was also observed in the three species. Quantatively, the level of anthrocyanin, proanthocyanin and naringin in A.achatina occurred at none detectable limit of the instrumentation, but for A.fulica, 3.416, 13.911 and 6.182% respectively were obtained. The trend observed in the mean ocurrence of antinutritional factors was sponin (8.921%) > oxalate (7.188%) > phenol (6.865%) > tanin (6.635%) > phytate (6.280%) > Lunamarine (4.320%) > ribalinidine (3.333%). The research revealed appreciable concentration of essential minerals in the snail samples with high level of antinutritional factors. High amount of carbohydrate was implicated in the samples hence the consumption of these snail samples should be at a minimal level to avoid accumulation of antinutritional factors in the body system.