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Assessment of nutritional
values of three underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of
Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Nnamani, C. V.1, Oselebe, H. O.2*
and Agbatutu, A.1
1Department
of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,
Nigeria.
2Department
of Crop Production & Landscape Management, Ebonyi State
University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
*Corresponding
author. E-mail:
happinessoselebe@yahoo.com. Tel: 08030899897.
Accepted
16 February, 2009 |
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The nutritional values of three underutilized indigenous
leafy vegetables of Izzi land in Ebonyi State of Nigeria;
Zanthoxylum zanthoyloides Herms, Vitex doniana
Sweet and Adenia cissamploides Zepernick, were
investigated. Their proximate and mineral values (Ca, P, Na,
Mg, Zn, K, Fe, Cu, Pb) were determined. Results of the
proximate analysis showed their moisture contents to be
10.8, 10.2 and 9.6% for V. doniana, A.
cissamploides and Z. zanthoxyloides,
respectively. Their protein contents were 8.74, 8.5 and
6.12%, respectively, while their carbohydrate values were
58.94, 59.5, and 66.2% respectively. Fat and ash contents
were highest in Z. zanthoxyloides (8.1 and 3.5%,
respectively), while crude fiber content was highest in
A. cissampeloides (14.6%). Macro and micro nutrients of
these vegetables showed high levels of Ca 90.1 > 72.08 >
54.06 mg/100 g for Z. zanthoyloide, V. doniana and
A. cissamploides, respectively. High values of Cu and Mg
were recorded for Z. zanthoxyloides and V.
doniana. The result also indicated the values for Na and
K, while the complete absence of Zn and Pd in the three
vegetables was of significant interest. The mineral
values of the three vegetables exceeded 1% of their dry
weights. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05)
between their nutritional values and those of the
conventional leafy vegetables.
Key
words:
Underutilized, indigenous, leafy vegetables, nutritional
value, Ebonyi State. |
