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Proximate analysis of some
dry season vegetables in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
A. Taiga*, M. N. Suleiman, D. O. Aina, W. F. Sule and G.
O. Alege
Department of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University,
Anyigba, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
akpotaiga@yahoo.com.
Tel: 08035981852.
Accepted 7 April, 2008 |
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Vegetable is a vital
component of human diet that should be eaten all year round,
but they are scarce during dry season in Anyigba community
in Kogi State, Nigeria. Available dry season vegetables such
as the leaves of Manihot esculentum (Cassava),
Piper guineese (Oziza), Chromolena odorata (Akintola),
Solanum melanogaster (Garden egg) and Voandzeia
subteranea (Babara-nut), are either not accepted as
conventional vegetable or they are classified as non edible
leaves from neighboring States. This study compared the
nutrient content of these vegetables with that of
Telfaria occidendalis (Ugwu). The result of the sensory
evaluation carried out showed that T. occidendalis
had sensory evaluation mean value of 6.28, which was
statistically significantly different (P = 0.001) when
compared with the mean value of S. melanogaster
(5.64). The highest mean value from the sensory evaluation
was recorded in C. odorata (6.44). However, there was
no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the mean values of
the sensory evaluation of M. esculentum, P.
guineese, C. odorata and V. subteranea
(6.02, 6.22, 6.44 and 6.10 mean values respectively) when
compared with that of T. occidentalis (6.28). In the
proximate chemical analyses, it was observed that M.
esculentum and C. odorata contained higher
protein (29.30 and 32.40%, respectively), than T.
occidentalis (13.33%). Also, the Carbohydrate content of
P. guineese and V. subteranea (77.17 and
89.42% respectively) was higher than that of T.
occidendalis (63.64%). M. esculentum, C.
odorata, P. guineese and V. subteranea are
recommended as edible vegetables.
Key words:
Sensory evaluation, dry season vegetable, available, Anyigba,
Nigeria. |
