Proximate and Phytochemical Composition of Some Lesser Known Leafy Vegetables Consumed In Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria

Margaret Agiang^1, , John Mgbang¹, Nyakno Essien¹ and Henry Peters²

¹Department of Biochemistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria

²Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Margaret Agiang, John Mgbang, Nyakno Essien and Henry Peters. Proximate and Phytochemical Composition of Some Lesser Known Leafy Vegetables Consumed In Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria. World Journal of Nutrition and Health. 2016; 4(1):16-21. doi: 10.12691/jnh-4-1-4

Abstract

The proximate and phytochemical composition of seven leafy vegetables (Albizia zygia, Basella alba, Ficus glumosa, Hibiscus cannabinus, Pterocarpus santalinoides, Solanum nigrum and Vitex doniana) consumed in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria was determined using standard methods. The proximate composition showed that moisture content of the fresh samples ranged from 68.20 to 86.43 % while the dry samples had moisture content ranging from 12.53 to 27.80%. Fresh Basella alba had the highest moisture and crude fat (86.43±0.18% and 6.43±0.15%DM respectively). On dry matter basis, Vitex doniana was found to contain the highest amount of crude protein (55.60±0.12%) and energy (871.33±8.65Kcal). Dietary fibre analysis indicated that Ficus glumosa had the highest value (1.79±0.02%).Hibiscus cannabinus was found to be significantly (p<0.05) high in carbohydrate (18.30±0.12%) compared with other vegetables analyzed whereasash was found to be significantlyhigh in Albizia zygia (13.47±0.09%). The quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that Hibiscus cannabinus contained the highest amount of alkaloid (2.12±0.01mg/100g) while Solanum nigrumhad the highest amount of tannin (0.69±0.02mg/100g) and steroids (8.33±0.02mg/100g). Oxalate and cyanate content was low in Vitex doniana (1.31±0.00mg/100g and 0.07±0.01mg/100g respectively). The amount of flavonoids contained in the vegetables was generally low, with Ficus glumosa and Pterocarpus santalinoides containingequal and highest amount (0.05±0.00mg/100g), while Pterocarpus santalinoides had the highest content of saponin (6.46±0.03mg/100g) and glycoside (6.13±0.01mg). Ficus glumosa had thehighest phytatecontent ((7.30±0.01mg/100g). The results obtained in this study indicate that the seven leafy vegetables are good sources of nutrients as well as may possess ethno-medicinal potentials for drug formulations.

Keywords:
leafy vegetables seven nutrient proximate composition phytochemical analysis

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