PROXIMATE COMPOSITION ANALYSIS OF SOLANUM MELONGENA (GARDEN EGG) FRUITS.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the proximate composition of garden egg (Solanum spp.) fruits with the aim of evaluating their nutritional value and potential dietary significance. Garden egg, a widely consumed indigenous vegetable in many African countries, particularly Nigeria, is often used in local dishes and traditional medicine but remains underutilized in food processing and nutritional planning due to limited scientific data on its composition. Using standardized laboratory procedures as outlined by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 2005), the study quantified key nutritional parameters including moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fiber, and carbohydrate content. Fresh samples of garden egg fruits were purposively collected from a local market, washed, dried, and ground for analysis. The results revealed that garden egg has a high moisture content (87.29%), moderate levels of crude fiber (3.98%) and carbohydrate (4.24%), and relatively low levels of ash (2.85%), crude protein (1.14%), and fats and oils (0.50%). These findings highlight the fruit’s potential as a low-calorie, high-fiber food suitable for promoting digestive health, hydration, and mineral intake, especially in low-resource dietary settings. The study concludes that garden egg is nutritionally beneficial and supports its inclusion in regular diets and food formulations. It further recommends increased awareness, cultivation, and value-added processing of garden egg to enhance its utility in both nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.