FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Urena lobata, mineral, amino acids, proximate, anti-nutritional
The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional qualities of Urena lobata leaves consumed in Katsina State, Nigeria. The sample was analyzed using the methods recommended by the Association of Analytical Chemists. The proximate compositions of the sample analyzed were ash content (9.12 ± 0.40), moisture content (7.39 ± 0.06), carbohydrate (47.64 ± 0.57), crude fibre (6.33 ± 0.03), crude protein (19.28 ± 0.41) and fat (10.33 ± 0.09) %. The leaf has a calorific value (360.65 Kj/100g). The sample was found to have reasonable amount of mineral content particularly potassium (1650.01 ± 1.53), calcium (34.19 ± 0.46), phosphorus (905 ± 1.97) and magnesium (66.11 ± 0.19) mg/100g. The anti-nutrients such as oxalates, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and cyanogenic glycosides were analyzed, though the values obtained from this constituent are within the WHO limit and they are safe for human consumption. Amino acids like histidine, leucine, aspartic acid, serine, valine, alanine, and tryptophan were all accounted for. Essential amino acid Aspartic acid with a concentration of 8.25 g/100g protein was found to be the highest while non-essential amino acid tryptophan with a concentration of 1.01 g/100g protein was found to be the least.
Abolaji OA, Adebayo AH & Odesanmi OS 2007. Nutritional Qualities of three Medical plant parts: Xlopiaaethhiopica, Blighiasapida, and Parinaripolyandra. Pak. J. Nutri., 6: 665-668. Adeyeye EI 2002. Determination of the chemical composition of the nutritionally valuable parts of male and female common West African fresh water crab Sudananautes africanusafricanus. Int. J. Food Sci., Nutr., 53: 189-196. Akindahunsi AA & Salawu SO 2005. Phytochemical screening and nutrient-anti-nutrient composition of selected tropical green vegetables. Afr. J. Biotech., 2(5): 497-501. Akubugwo IE, Obasi NA, Chinyere GC & Ugbogu AE 2007. Nutritional and chemical value of AmaranthushybridusL. leaves from Afikpo, Nigeria. Afri. J. Biotechn., 6(24): 2833-2839. Antia BS, Akpan EJ, Okon PA & Umoren IU 2006. Nutritive and Anti-Nutritive Evaluation of sweet potatoes Ipomoea batatasleaves Pak. J. Nutr., (2): 166-168. AOAC 2006. Official Method of Analysis by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Association of Official Analytical Chemists Inc., Alington, Washington DC., USA. Edeoga HO, Okwu DE & Mbaebie BO 2005. Pythochemical constituents of some of Nigerias medicinal plants. Afri. J. Phytotechn., 102-108. Einhorn D & Landsberg L 1988.Nutrition and diet in hypertension. In: Shils ME, Young VR Ekop AS 2007. Determination of Chemical Composition of Gnetumafricana(Afang) seeds. Pak. J. Nutri., 6(1): 40-43. Harbone JB 1998. Phytochemical methods second edition London, Chapman and Halls. 459-466. Hassan LG & Umar KJ 2006. Nutritional Value of Balsam Apple (Momordicabalsamina L.) Leaves. Pak. J. Nutr., 5(6): 522-529. Ibrahim NDG, Abdurahhman EM & Ibrahim G 2001. Elemental analysis of the leaves of Verniniaamygdalinaand its biological evaluation in rats. Nig. J. Natural Prod. Med., 5: 13-16. Ifon ET & Bassir O 1979. The nutritive value of some Nigerian leafy green vegetables - Part 1: Vitamin and Mineral contents. Food Chem., 4: 263- 267. Ifon ET and Bassir O 1980.The nutritional values of some Nigerian leafy green vegetables. Part 1: Vitamin, toxicant and mineral contents. Food Chem., 4(2): 263-267. Ishida HH, Suzuno N, Sugiyama S, Innami T, Todokoro & Maekawa A 2000. Nutritional evaluation of chemical component of leaves, stalks and stems of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas Poir). Food Chem., 68: 359-367. Konkon NG, Adejoungona AL, Manda P, Simagn D, Nguiesan KE, and Kone BD 2008. Toxicological and phytochemical screening study of M. inermis (Wils) O. Kuntze (Rub.). Anti diabetic Plant. J. Med. Plant Res., 2(10): 279 – 284. Ladan MJ, Bilbils LS & Lawal M 1996. Nutrient composition of some green leafy vegetables consumed in Sokoto, Nigeria. J. Basic. Appl. Sci., 5: 39-44. Mathew JT, Ndamitso MM, Otori AA, Shaba EY, Inobeme A & Adamu A 2014. Proximate and mineral compositions of seeds of some conventional and non conventional fruits in Niger State, Nigeria. Acad. Res. Int., 5(2): 113-118. McDonald PR, Edwads A, Greenhalgh FD & Morgan CA 1995. Animal Nutrition. Prentices Hall, London, 101-122. Ramula P & Rao PU 2003. Dietary fibre content of fruits and leafy vegetables.Nutr. News, 24: 1-6. Richard AE, Djuikwo VN, Gouado I & Mbofung CM 2007. Nutritional components of some non-conventional leafy vegetables consumed in Cameroon. Pak. J. Nutr., 6(6): 712-717. Sena LP, VanderJagt DJ, Rivera C, Tsin ATC, Muhammadu I, Mahamadou O, Milson M, Pastosyn A & Glew RH 1998. Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the republic of Niger. Plant Foods Human Nutr., 52: 17-30. Sparkman DH, Stein EH & Moore S 1958. Automatic recording apparatus for use in chromatography of amino acids. Anal. Chem., 30: 119. Trease GE & Evans WC 1995. Pharmacology, Braille, Tindal & Macmillan Publishers, London, (11): 60-75. Valoran PH & Jeffrey SR 2002. Direct determination of tryptophan using high performance anion-exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detec. Analyt. Bioch., 308(2): 204-209. Vadivel V & Janardhanan K 2000. Chemical composition of the underutilized legume Cassia hirsute L. Plant Foods for Human Nutr., 55: 369-381. Vigil JC 1992. Neutron Activation Analysis Table, Hayden, London, p. 55-67.
