Analysis of Proximate, Mineral and Phytochemical Composition of fresh and dry Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) in Bida Metropolis, Niger State

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina is tropical shrub with high biomass yield which is used to prepare several dishes, it is also utilized as herb for health improvement. This study was carried out to determine, the proximate, mineral and phytochemicals composition of fresh and dry bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) leaves in Bida metropolis. The Vernonia amygdalina leaf samples were evaluated using standard procedures. The result of the proximate analysis show that percentage dry matter and moisture content shows significant (p<0.05) difference between the samples. The percentage ash content and the crude fiber of both samples does not differ significantly (p>0.05). The mean percentage of crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrate were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the dry bitter leaf when compared with the values of the fresh bitter leaf. The mineral composition shows Sodium (0.07 ± 0.00 and 0.08 ± 0.00), potassium (0.04 ± 0.00 and 0.06 ± 0.00), calcium content (0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.47 ± 0.02), magnesium (1.33 ± 0.10 and 0.98 ± 0.00) and Phosphorus (2.11 ± 0.17 and 2.18 ± 3.41). The phytochemical analysis shows that flavonoid value was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the fresh bitter leaf sample than the dry bitter leave sample. The dry bitter leaf sample significantly (p<0.05) recorded high value in alkaloid, oxalate and cyanide when compares to the values obtain from the fresh bitter leaf sample. Both the dry and fresh better leaf sample did not differ significantly in term of phytate and tannin composition. According to this study, the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina, both fresh and dry, have varying and significant amounts of secondary metabolites (alkaloid, flavonoid, cyanide, oxalate, and phytate), mineral elements (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and Phosphorus), and proximate compositions (moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fibre, protein, and carbohydrate). The outcomes demonstrate the significant health benefits of the two leaves.