A number of tropical fruits are cultivated in almost all parts of northern Nigeria with high nutritional value that plays important role in human nutrition. This study was aimed at evaluating the proximate and mineral element composition of the five tropical fruits (Shea Guava, Water melon and Orange) that are widely consumed in Kano state Nigeria. The proximate composition of the studied fruits were determined by the standard methods Chemists, while the Mineral Elements (Ca and Mg) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The levels of Na level of P was determined by Vanadomolybdate method. T that water melon has the highest moisture and protein contents (95.3±0.7% and 7.7±0.8% respectively). Shea fruit recorded the highest ash, lipid and energy value (7.35±0.5%, 2.12±0.8% and 1516.7±8KJ/100g respectively). Orange has the highest available carbohydrate (86.54±1.7%) while mango has the highest fiber content (13.52±0.2%) among the studied fruits. Similarly, Concentration of Ca was found to be highest in the pulp of orange (0.277±0.025mg/100g). The levels Mg were found to be highest in the peel of water melon (30.0±0mg/100g). More so, the levels of K and P were highest in the peel and pulp of guava (138.9±4.8mg/100g and 48.6±0.2mg/100g respectively) with significant difference (p<0.05) between the studied segments of the fruit. The level of Na was found to be highest in the peel of mango (6.7±0.7mg/100g). The results obtained show that the studied samples of fruits are rich in total protein, available carbohydrate and crude fiber. Likewise, the fruits also ha of K, Mg, Na and P but poor sources of Ca. Hence, consumption of such fruits could improve the nutritional status of the consumers.

Fruits are one of the oldest forms of food known to man and they present an important part of human diet in almost any culture of the world due to their high nutrients content. This study was undertaken to analyze the nutritive, minerals and (Musa esculentum), paw-paw(Carica papaya), pineapple (Irvigna gabonensis) and Avocado pear (Persia americana) that are consumed in Nigeria. The proximate composition of fruits show (90.0±1.0%) while African mango has the highest ash content (13.06±1.0%). Similarly, the highest crude protein, lipid and fiber contents were recorded by avocado pear (10.0±0.2%, 2.85±0.7 and 15.81±1.0% respectively). The highest available carbohydrate content was observed in pineapple (82.57±0.8%) whereas; the highest energy values were recorded by paw pineapple (355.94±1.6 and 355.94±1.4 respectively). The results of the mineral analysis showed that Ca content was very low in all studied samples. However, appreciable amounts of K, Mg, Na and P were observed. Highest concentration of K was observed in the pulp of pineapple (436.1±4.8mg/100g) while banana pulp recorded highest amounts of Mg (81.7±1.4mg/ Moreover, the Na content was found to be highest in husk of avocado pear (7.3±0.7mg/100g) while the peel of banana has the highest content of P (49.0±0.5mg/100g). Comparing values of mineral elements obtained in this study with the recommended daily and P levels could possibly meet the stipulated requirements in these fruits. Meanwhile, the presence of mineral elements in the husks of these fruits indicates that they could be used as source of minerals in the formulation o