African Journal of Food Science Vol. 4(7), pp. 440 - 443, July 2010

ISSN 1996-0794 © 2010 Academic Journals  

Full Length Research Paper

The health implications of the dietary nutrients detected in the vegetable leaves intercropped with Raphia hookeri palms   F. I. Obahiagbon1* and J. O. Erhabor                                     1Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. 2Benson Idahosa Universty, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.   *Corresponding author. E-mail: fiobahiagbon@yahoo.com.   Accepted June 28, 2010

Abstract

Nigerian green vegetables were intercropped with Raphia hookeri palms. The leaves of the vegetables and Raphia palms were harvested. Proximate composition and mineral contents of the leaves were analyzed by standard methods. The proximate composition result (Mean) ranged between: 72.9 - 91.2 (%Moisture), 1.3 - 3.0(% Proteins), 0.3 - 3.0(% Lipid), 1.5 - 4.2 (%Crude fibre), 1.0 - 4.0 (%Ash) and 2.5 - 10.0 (%Carbohydrate). The mineral elements detected were in varied concentrations. The health implications of the nutrients detected in human physiology are discussed. On the overall, the nutrients detected were found to play significant roles in humans.

Key words: Raphia hookeri, Nigerian green vegetables, proximate composition, mineral content.