Abstract
Sri Lanka is blessed with a wide variety of leafy vegetables. However, the information on their nutritional value is scanty. In the present study, ten leafy vegetables commonly grown in Sri Lanka, namely Centella asiatica (Gotukola), Alternanthera sessilis (Weda Mukunuwenna), Alternanther asessilis (Common Mukunuwenna), Sesbania grandiflora (Kathurumurunga), Amaranthus viridis (Red thampala), Amaranthus viridis (Green Thampala), Dregea volubilis (Aguna kola), Coccinia grandis (Kowakka), Costus speciosus (Thebu kola) and Trianthema portulacastrum (Sarana) were evaluated for their nutritional composition. Samples of each vegetable species were collected from different geographical locations of the country representing all agro-climatic zones. Healthy, undamaged plant parts were collected, cleaned and air dried at 45 °C, pooled in similar quantities and stored at 4 °C for further analysis. The proximate and mineral composition of each sample were determined and presented on fresh weight basis. Moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein and total carbohydrate contents were determined using AOAC standard methods. The moisture content ranged between 76.99 and 89.55% while the crude protein content ranged between 1.73 and 7.17%. The corresponding ranges for ash, total carbohydrates and crude fat were 1.28 – 3.86%, 4.41 – 10.76% and 0.29 – 1.81%, respectively. Comparatively, A. viridis was found to be the richest (P
Highlights
An increasing interest has been developed among Sri Lankans towards the consumption of leafy vegetables as means of obtaining nutrients especially micronutrients
A total of 500 g of healthy, undamaged, edible leaves and stems of Centella asiatica, Alternanthera sessilis, Amaranthus viridis and Trianthema portulacastrum and leaves of Sesbania grandiflora, Dregea volubilis, Coccinia grandis and Costus speciosus were collected from seven agro-climatic zones of Sri Lanka: wet zone low country, wet zone mid country, wet zone up country, low country intermediate zone, mid country intermediate zone, up country intermediate zone and low country dry zone separately, packed in polythene bags, labeled, placed in temperature controlled containers and transported to the laboratory without delay
These values fell within the range (70 – 90%) reported by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2006)
Summary
An increasing interest has been developed among Sri Lankans towards the consumption of leafy vegetables as means of obtaining nutrients especially micronutrients. Many nutritional studies have given an important consideration for dark green leafy vegetables in dietary guidelines as rich sources of vitamins, especially vitamins C and A; minerals, including calcium, iron and phosphorus; and phytochemicals, antioxidants. Nutritional data of green leafy vegetables commonly grown in the country is quite scanty. This study was carried out to determine proximate and mineral composition of selected ten leafy vegetables commonly grown and used in food preparations in Sri Lanka namely, Centella asiatica (Gotukola), Alternanthera sessilis (Weda Mukunuwenna), Alternanthera sessilis (common Mukunuwenna), Sesbania grandiflora (Kathurumurunga), Amaranthus viridis1(Red Thampala), Amaranthus viridis (Green Thampala), Dregea volubilis (Aguna kolaThiththaaguna), Coccinia grandis (Kowakka), Costus speciosus (Thebu kola) and Trianthema portulacastrum ( Sarana) (Figures 1- 3)
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