Abstract
Bobgunnia fistuloides is a leguminous plant which belong to the family of fabaceae. Ethno-medicinally, Bobgunnia fistuloides parts (leaves, bark and roots) have been used by the Nupe communities, Niger State, Nigeria to treat various diseases for decades. This research assessed the proximate composition and elemental composition of the leaves, stem bark and roots of Bobgunnia fistuloides. The Ca, Mg and Fe content in the plant parts were investigated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer while as the Na and K content were assessed using flame photometer. More so, the proximate compositions of the leaves, stem bark and roots were analyzed using standard methods. The results of the proximate analysis, in percentages, revealed the values of 10.01±0.15, 9.40±0.46, 10.61±0.18; 32.40±0.16, 36.20±2.47, 33.00±0.20; 2.71±0.16, 10.13±0.26, 11.27±0.08; 3.28±0.22, 2.91±0.13, 3.50±0.44; 0.88±0.01, 1.06±0.02, 1.08±0.02 and 50.73±2.51, 40.30±1.87, 40.25±1.09 respectively for the moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat and crude carbohydrates contents of leaves, stem bark and roots of the plant. On the other hand, the nutritive values in mg/kg were: K (822.20±0.20, 756.13±0.06, 652.67±3.05); Na (507.24±0.08, 496.13±0.06 and 252.83±0.04), Ca (2405.48±0.43, 1208.64±0.02 and 977.36±0.57), Fe (102.07±0.05, 70.44±0.04and 6.17±0.31), Mg (580.20±0.07, 448.54±0.29 and 206.35±0.25) respectively for the leaves, stem bark and roots of this plant. These results indicate that the roots of Bobgunnia fistuloides contain relatively lowest amounts of the elements determined followed by the stem bark while the leaves have the highest. These results also reveal that the carbohydrates, calcium and potassium contents of the leaves were the highest compared to those of the other parts analyzed. The results also reveal that since such parameters including the ash contents among other parameters investigated were high, all the parts of this plant could serve as good sources of nutrients when properly utilized.
Highlights
The nutritive values in mg/kg were: K (822.20±0.20, 756.13±0.06, 652.67±3.05); Na (507.24±0.08, 496.13±0.06 and 252.83±0.04), Ca (2405.48±0.43, 1208.64±0.02 and 977.36±0.57), Fe (102.07±0.05, 70.44±0.04and 6.17±0.31), Mg (580.20±0.07, 448.54±0.29 and 206.35±0.25) respectively for the leaves, stem bark and roots of this plant. These results indicate that the roots of Bobgunnia fistuloides contain relatively lowest amounts of the elements determined followed by the stem bark while the leaves have the highest
The results of the analysis show that the leaves, stem bark and roots of Bobgunnia fistuloides contain nutrients and mineral elements that are of high nutritional values
The plant parts are rich in calcium, potassium, ash and carbohydrates but with low fat contents
Summary
The proximate compositions of materials including plants and animals which are the ash, moisture, fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrates are of great importance in nutrition especially in feed formulations. The carbohydrate contents in plants contribute to their physiological functions serving as the major source of energy. Fats help to regulate blood pressure in humans and promote the repair of vital cells. The ash content of plants refers to the amount of the mineral elements present, which helps in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance of the blood system in animals which consume the plants [3]. Fibres are Samuel Egwu Anwani et al.: Assessment of the Proximate and Elemental Composition of the Leaves, Stem
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