1.1 Introduction
Daucus carota L. commonly known as carrot is a biennial type plant from Apiaceae family. Carrot is one of the most popular root vegetables in the world and one of the most important sources of carotenoids. Carotenoids contain five to six C in a ring, where they can be straight or branched chains (Sharma et al., 2012).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is the most important crop of Apiaceae family. It is a root vegetable that has world- wide distribution. Carrots were first used for medical purposes and gradually used as food. Written records in Europe indicated that carrots were cultivated prior to the tenth century. The colors of the carrot root flesh maybe white, yellow, orange, red, purple, or very dark purple, the first cultivated carrots were yellow and purple fleshed cultivars. Orange carrots, today more popular, were developed in the 15th and 16th centuries in Central Europe. A rapid rise in the popularity of orange carrots was observed with the recognition of its high provitamin A content (Simon, 2000).
Carotenoids and anthocyanins are the major antioxidant pigments found in carrots. Cultivar differences in carrots rely in the type of pigments present. Carotenoids are the yellow, orange, or red colored phytochemicals found in most yellow and orange fleshed cultivars. The widely used orange carrot is high in α- and β-carotene and is a rich source of provitamin A. Yellow carrot color is due to lutein which plays an important role in prevention of macular degeneration (Dias, 2012).
The red water-soluble anthocyanin pigment and the red water insoluble lycopene pigment present in the roots of some cultivars do not contribute to the provitamin A content. Red carrot color is due to its high lycopene content (Sun et al., 2009). Meanwhile anthocyanin-rich carrots are purple (Sun et al., 2009). White flesh cultivars contain very little pigments. The carotene content of the orange and yellow fleshed culti- vars increases with growth. The cortical region contains more carotenes than the core. Overall carotenoid levels, have increased dramatically in the past four decades through traditional breeding to reach levels of 1000 ppm carotenoids, on a fresh weight basis (Simon et al., 2007). Besides, comparing to other vegetables, carrots can provide in the human diet significant amount of vitamin A due to the high bioavailability of carrot carotenoids (Van et al., 2000).
Carrots have also a unique combination of three flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin (Ching et al., 2001). They are also rich in other phenols, including chlorogenic, caffeic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids along with numerous cinnamic acid derivates. Among hydroxycinnamic acid and its derivates, chlorogenic acid represents 42.2% to 61.8% of total phenolic compounds detected in different carrot tissues (Zhang et al., 2004).
Falcarinol is the most bioactive phyto-chemical of the carrot polyacetylenes. It is though that this compound may stimulate cancer-fighting mechan- isms in the human body. The mode of action behind the favorable effect of falcarinol may be due to its hydro- phobicity and its ability to form an extremely stable carbocation with the loss of water thereby acting as a very reactive alkylating agent toward proteins and other biomolecules (Hansen et al., 1986). Besides other sesquiterpenes, which presence has also been found in various biochemical analyses, daucuside and daucuso are sesquiterpenoids recently isolated from carrot seeds and that have cytotoxic effect against human gastric cell lines (Ahmed et al., 2005).
The presence of coumarins has also been demonstrated in various biochemical analyses. A bitter coumarin compound is formed when carrots are stored (Czepa et al., 2003). Among 39 fruits and vegetables carrots have been ranked 10th in nutritional value (Acharya et al., 2008). Carrot is a good source of dietary fiber and of the trace mineral molybdenum, rarely found in many vegetables. Molybdenum aids in metabolism of fats and carbohydrates and is important for absorption of iron. It is also a good source of magnesium and manganese. Magnesium is needed for bone, protein, making new cells, activating B vitamins, relaxing nerves and muscles, clotting blood, and in energy production (Guerrera et al., 2009).
Insulin secretion and function also require magnesium (Bartlett et al., 2008). Manganese is helpful in carbohydrate metabolism, in coordination with enzymes in the body (Dias, 2012). Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Potassium and magnesium in carrots help in functioning of muscles. When carrot roots after juvenile stage are subjected to cold temperatures, for a period of time according to cultivars, flower induction and seedstalk formation takes place. Seeds contain essential oils.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Production of Carrot Soap using Home Made Method.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals that it can cost a fortune to keep a supply of carrot soap on hand. From the price, it is easy to wonder if the secret ingredients in some moisturizers are gold dust. What few people realize is that the basic recipe for any liquid soap is incredibly simple. Oil and water are combined and bonded together with Potassium hydroxide to produce liquid soap. In fact anyone can create a month's supply of luxurious liquid soap in his or her bedroom. Even more exciting is the fact that you can make a moisturizer that is perfectly suited to your skin type with fragrance of your choice.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the production process of Carrot Soap using Home Made Method. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To formulate natural liquid hand soap with carrot oil at various concentration;
- To identify the medicinal properties of carrot;
- To assess the physico-chemical properties and antibacterial activity was evaluated to determine the quality of the carrot soap.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Production of Carrot Soap using Home Made Method.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
