Evaluation of chemical and antinutritional characteristics of obeche (Triplochition scleroxylon) and some mulberry (Morus alba) leaves

Abstract

The chemical composition and antinutritional contents of some selected varieties of white mulberry leaves and obeche leaves were investigated. Three varieties of mulberry leaves (S36, S54 and K2) were harvestedfrom Ondo State sericulture centre while obeche leaves were harvested from Aponmu Forest Reserve located in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria, for analysis. Proximate composition, minerals and antinutritionalcontents were determined on dry matter basis for the samples. The percentage of crude protein in all the samples were significantly high (P≤0.05) with 34.31, 21.66%, 21.55% and 21.24% in obeche, S36, S54 and K2 respectively. Similarly, crude fibre follow the same trend with 20.73%, 13.70, 10.81%, 13.70% and 8.74% respectively, while the percentage water content were 73.70% 79.35%, 72.16% and 76.00%, in obeche, S36, S54 and K2 respectively. The results further show that the samples contain zinc in the range of 34.4 - 57.5 mg/kg, sodium 1069 – 1526 mg/kg, manganese 14.83 – 24.37 mg/kg, calcium 944 – 1467 mg/kg, potassium 1684 – 2170 mg/kg, iron 129.70 – 238.00 mg/kg, and magnesium 1450 – 2196 mg/kg. Phytate is significantly higher(P≤0.05) in obeche than other treatments. Likewise, cyanide and tannin were significantly higher (P≤0.05) in S36 than other treatments (obeche, K2 and S34). However, these antinutrients (phytate, cyanide and tannin) were much lower than the permitted values in fruits and any other food items. The result of the chemical analysis showed that all the selected mulberry varieties and obeche leaves contained adequate level of food nutrients required for normal body functioning.Keywords: mulberry leaves, nutritional characteristics, obeche leaves, Proximate composition.