PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF FIVE LEAF

Abstract

Proximate analysis and Mineral composition of some Leafy vegetables; Bitter-leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Water-leaf (Talinum triangulare), African2-spinach (Amaranthus hybridus), Fluted-pumpkin leaf (Telfaria occidentalis), and Jute-leaf (Conchorus olibrius) werecarried out using standard analytical procedures. The moisture content of the samples ranged between (87.68 ± 2.13d - 93.16 ± 0.04c %), crude protein (1.53 ± 0.01d - 4.37 ± 1.15a %), crude fiber (1.00 ± 0.33a - 1.82 ± 0.03e %), crude fat (0.35 ± 0.01e - 1.17 ± 0.11c %), ash content (0.62 ± 0.08a - 7.63 ± 2.70d %), and carbohydrate (6.84 ± 0.04a - 12.33 ± 2.12d %). Proximate analysis shows that Biter-leaf has the highest crude protein, Jute-leaf has the highest crude fiber, Water-leaf has the highest crude fat, Bitter-leaf has the highest ash content and carbohydrate, while Jute-leaf has the highest moisture. Mineral element analysis showed that Leafy Vegetable contained high level of calcium in African spinach and least calcium in Biter-leaf (31.84 ± 0.01a - 44.39 ± 0.02e), iron (3.24 ± 0.01a - 6.35 ± 0.0e), zinc (3.66 ± 0.01a - 6.43 ± 0.0e), and magnesium had the lowest value which ranged between (1.17 ± 0.01a - 3.31 ± 0.01e) mg/100g respectively. The study showed that the Leafy vegetables contained high amount of some minerals. Hence, they are good sources of calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium.