Proximate Composition, Mineral and Phytochemical Contents of Some Leafy Vegetables Native to Igala Kingdom Kogi State Nigeria

Abstract

The proximate composition, minerals and phytochemical contents of some leafy vegetables native to Igala land were determined. It was designed to establish the nutritional value and inclusion in food composition table for use by nutritionists and dieticians. Fresh vegetable samples (cocoyam, eggplant leaf, sweet potato leaf, fluted pumpkins, camwood, spinach, drum stick, jute mallow, basil plant leaf and bitter leaf) were obtained from gardens and vegetable shops of Igalas at Anyigba. They were washed and dried and standard methods were used for the analysis. Triplicate values were obtained in each case and expressed on dry weight basis. All data obtained were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 17.0 package. Means and standard deviation were calculated at significant level of p ≤ 0.001. Among the vegetable samples, crude fibre contents ranged from (26.7 to 8.0%), Ash (15.2 to 5.1%), moisture (5.3 to 1.52±0.02%), fat 4.1 to 1.3%, protein (25.1 to 9.2%) and carbohydrates, (67.2 to 8.04%). Phytochemical contents (mg/100 g) included Phenolic acid (312.6 to 10.1) flavonoid was (420.7 to 2.6) alkaloid (9.7 to 2.6), oxalate (0.9 to 0.003). Tannin (36.20 to 0.03), Saponin was (5.20 to 0.0), Phytates (2.02 to 0.06) and Cyanides was (0.5 to 0.05). Mineral contents mg / 2 g included: sodium (0.08 to 0.001), potassium content included (0.3 to 0.002), calcium (0.06 to 0.02), magnesium (0.06 to 0.00) and phosphorus was (0.06 to 0.02). Drumstick contained the highest crude fibre, protein, potassium, magnesium and phytate contents while ash contents were higher in fluted pumpkins. All the leafy vegetables considered, phytochemical contents were within an allowable level for safety.