Extraction and Characterization of Mucilage from Irvingia Gabonesis and Irvingia Wobolum Seeds

This study is aimed at the extraction and characterization of mucilage from Ogbono seeds. In this research work, two species of Irvingia was used (Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu). Proximate analysis was carried out on the samples to determine crude protein, moisture, crude fiber, ash, oil, carbohydrate and energy value. The mucilage was extracted using different methods and at different process parameters such as seed to liquid ratio (1:10, 1:20, 1:30, 1:40), temperature (40oC, 50oC, 60oC, 80oC), time (30mins, 60mins, 90mins, 120mins) and pH (3, 5, 7, 9). The results obtained from the effect of seed to liquid ratio showed that the best seed to liquid ratio for Irvingia gabonensis is from 1:20 to 1:30 for the three solvent. These gave the highest yield of averagely above 17%. Similarly ratio range of 1:30 to 1:40 gave the highest yield of averagely of above 12%. Also for effect of temperature, for both ogbono seeds evidence has shown that increase in temperature increases the yield of mucilage for the three solvents (Ethanol, Petroleum ether and Acetone) but Irvingia wombolu shows higher yield than Irvingia gabonensis with increase in temperature. This is an indication that high temperature promotes precipitation. The results of pH on mucilage yield for Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu shows that increase in pH for both seed and the three precipitated solvents increases the mucilage yield with highest yield at pH of 9 (alkaline medium). The result has shown that precipitation with ethanol exhibited yield followed acetone on both seed but Irvingia gabonensis gave the highest yield. The results as the boiling time increases from 30 to 120 minutes, the mucilage yield also increases for both seed samples in the three precipitated solvents. Higher yield was obtained in Irvingia wombolu and the best solvent was ethanol followed by acetone. This proved that higher time create more surface area for the isolation of the mucilage. The summary of the results showed that the two sample of Ogbono seeds (Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu) contain high yield mucilage and the mucilage also contain high carbohydrate, protein, fibre, energy, ash, fat, and moisture content which proved that both ogbono seeds mucilage have high nutritional value. With these it can be concluded that Ogbono mucilage is good excipient for food and pharmaceutical products. The mucilage was characterized to examine the solubility, bulk density and the pH. Ogbono seeds mucilage is highly recommended for use as good excipient for food and pharmaceutical products due to its high nutritional value