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Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers

Received: 1 July 2017     Accepted: 13 July 2017     Published: 9 August 2017
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Abstract

Root tubers of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) have cyanogenic glucosides which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on hydrolysis in quantities that can be toxic to humans. As a result, several techniques have been used to detoxify the tubers including among others, soaking, sun-drying and fermentation which has been found to be the most effective. However, fermentation is associated with the growth of potentially mycotoxigenic moulds (fungi) which compromise the quality of the processed product hence suggesting the use of alternative mould free processing techniques like soaking and sun-drying. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of soaking and sun-drying in detoxifying root tubers of a toxic cassava variety, “Rutuga”, (interpreted as “strangler”) of cyanogens (total HCN, free HCN and bound HCN) in South Western Uganda. The cyanogens were determined by a standard titration method. The results indicated that soaking peeled cassava root tubers in cold distilled water for 4 days removed about 78% of bound HCN while sun-drying of peeled cassava chips for 5 days removed about 74% of free HCN. However, both methods are less effective in removing total HCN (soaking, 47%; sun-drying, 43%) due to the ineffectiveness of soaking and sun-drying in removing free HCN (21%) and bound HCN (3%) respectively. Hence a mixed approach employing both methods would be more appropriate in detoxifying cassava of total HCN.

Published in International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11
Page(s) 103-105
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cassava Root Tubers, Cyanogens, Soaking, Sun-Drying

References
[1] D. J. Rogers, and S. G. Appan, “Manihot and Manihotoides (Euphorbiaceae), a computer-assisted study”. Flora Neotropica. Monograph No. 13. Hafner Press, New York, 1973.
[2] M. T. Dahniya, M. O. Akoroda, M. N. Alvarez, P. M. Kaindaneh, J. Ambe-Tumanteh, J. E. Okeke, and A. Jalloh, “Development and dissemination of appropriate root crops packages to farmers in Africa”. In: F. Ofori, and S. K. Hahn, (eds) Proceedings of Ninth Symposium of the International Society of Tropical Root Crops, 20–26 October 1991, Accra, Ghana. International Society for Tropical Root Crops, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 2–9, 1994.
[3] S. A. Berry, “Socio-economic aspects of cassava cultivation and use in Africa: implications for development of appropriate technology”. COSCA Working Paper No. 8. Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, 1993.
[4] F. I. Nweke, “Cassava distribution in Africa”. COSCA Working Paper No. 12. Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, 1994a.
[5] F. I. Nweke, “Farm level practices relevant to cassava plant protection”. African Crop Science Journal, 2, 563–582, 1994b.
[6] R. J. Hillocks, “Cassava in Africa”. In: R. J. Hillocks, J. M. Thresh, and A. C. Bellotti, (eds). Cassava: Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International publishers, Wallingford, UK (pp. 41-54), 2002.
[7] B. Adamolekun, “Neurological Disorders associated with Cyanogenic Glycosides in Cassava: A Review of Putative Etiologic Mechanisms”. In: C. M. Pace (ed.), Cassava: Farming, Uses, and Economic Impact. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York. pp. 165-180, 2012.
[8] V. Lebot, “Tropical root and tuber crops: cassava, sweet potato, yams, aroids”. CAB International Publishers. Oxfordshire, UK, 2009.
[9] F. Nartey, “Cassava–Cyanogenesis, Ultrastructure and Seed Germination”. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 1978.
[10] D. L. Dufour, “Bitter’ cassava: toxicity and detoxification”. In: Ortiz, R. and Nassar, N. M. A. (eds) Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Cassava Breeding, Biotechnology and Ecology. Universidade de Brazilia, Brazil, pp. 171–184, 2007.
[11] A. Westby, “Cassava utilization, storage and small-scale processing”. In: R. J. Hillocks, J. M. Thresh, and A. C. Bellotti, (eds) Cassava, Biology, Production and Utilization. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp. 281–300, 2002.
[12] B. Oloya, C. Adaku, E. Ntambi, and M. Andama, “Detoxification of Nyar-Udota Cassava Variety in Zombo District by Fermentation”. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 6 (3), 118-121, 2017.
[13] M. Andama, & B. J. Lejju, “Potential of Fermentation in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers”. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A 2, 1182-1188, 2012.
[14] H. J. Bradbury, “Processing of cassava to reduce cyanide content”. Cassava Cyanide Diseases Network Newsletter 3, 2004.
[15] FAO, Processing and utilization of Root and Tuber Crops, FIAT PANIS, Rome, 2000.
[16] A. Westby, and B. K. Choo, “Cyanogen reduction during the lactic fermentation of cassava”. Acta Horticulturae 375, 209–215, 1994.
[17] A. R. Cardoso, E. Mirione, M. Ernesto, F. Massaza, J. Cliff, M. R. Haque, and H. J. Bradbury, “Processing of cassava roots toremove cyanogens”. J. Food Comp. Anal. 18, 451-460, 2005.
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    Morgan Andama, Julius BunnyLejju, Benson Oloya. (2017). Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers. International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology, 2(4), 103-105. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11

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    ACS Style

    Morgan Andama; Julius BunnyLejju; Benson Oloya. Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers. Int. J. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 2017, 2(4), 103-105. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11

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    AMA Style

    Morgan Andama, Julius BunnyLejju, Benson Oloya. Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers. Int J Food Sci Biotechnol. 2017;2(4):103-105. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11,
      author = {Morgan Andama and Julius BunnyLejju and Benson Oloya},
      title = {Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers},
      journal = {International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {103-105},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijfsb.20170204.11},
      abstract = {Root tubers of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) have cyanogenic glucosides which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on hydrolysis in quantities that can be toxic to humans. As a result, several techniques have been used to detoxify the tubers including among others, soaking, sun-drying and fermentation which has been found to be the most effective. However, fermentation is associated with the growth of potentially mycotoxigenic moulds (fungi) which compromise the quality of the processed product hence suggesting the use of alternative mould free processing techniques like soaking and sun-drying. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of soaking and sun-drying in detoxifying root tubers of a toxic cassava variety, “Rutuga”, (interpreted as “strangler”) of cyanogens (total HCN, free HCN and bound HCN) in South Western Uganda. The cyanogens were determined by a standard titration method. The results indicated that soaking peeled cassava root tubers in cold distilled water for 4 days removed about 78% of bound HCN while sun-drying of peeled cassava chips for 5 days removed about 74% of free HCN. However, both methods are less effective in removing total HCN (soaking, 47%; sun-drying, 43%) due to the ineffectiveness of soaking and sun-drying in removing free HCN (21%) and bound HCN (3%) respectively. Hence a mixed approach employing both methods would be more appropriate in detoxifying cassava of total HCN.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Potential of Soaking and Sun-Drying in Detoxifying Toxic Cassava Root Tubers
    AU  - Morgan Andama
    AU  - Julius BunnyLejju
    AU  - Benson Oloya
    Y1  - 2017/08/09
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    T2  - International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology
    JF  - International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology
    JO  - International Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfsb.20170204.11
    AB  - Root tubers of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) have cyanogenic glucosides which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on hydrolysis in quantities that can be toxic to humans. As a result, several techniques have been used to detoxify the tubers including among others, soaking, sun-drying and fermentation which has been found to be the most effective. However, fermentation is associated with the growth of potentially mycotoxigenic moulds (fungi) which compromise the quality of the processed product hence suggesting the use of alternative mould free processing techniques like soaking and sun-drying. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of soaking and sun-drying in detoxifying root tubers of a toxic cassava variety, “Rutuga”, (interpreted as “strangler”) of cyanogens (total HCN, free HCN and bound HCN) in South Western Uganda. The cyanogens were determined by a standard titration method. The results indicated that soaking peeled cassava root tubers in cold distilled water for 4 days removed about 78% of bound HCN while sun-drying of peeled cassava chips for 5 days removed about 74% of free HCN. However, both methods are less effective in removing total HCN (soaking, 47%; sun-drying, 43%) due to the ineffectiveness of soaking and sun-drying in removing free HCN (21%) and bound HCN (3%) respectively. Hence a mixed approach employing both methods would be more appropriate in detoxifying cassava of total HCN.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda

  • Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda

  • Department of Chemistry, Muni University, Arua, Uganda

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