Abstract
The chemical nutrient composition and the phytochemical content of the leaves of Mucuna poggei, an underutilized leafy vegetable were analyzed using standard methods. The result of the proximate compositions analysis showed that the leaves contained moisture (8.25%), crude fibre (30.55%), crude fat (9.45%), ash (7.78%), crude protein (32.38%) and carbohydrate (11.55%). Results of the mineral analysis showed that it contains the following essential minerals: Sodium (68.10mg/100g), potassium (43.21mg/100g), calcium (71.71mg/100g), iron (10.56mg/100g), manganese (0.65mg/100g), copper (0.47mg/100g), magnesium (56.05mg/100g), zinc (0.25mg/100g), phosphorus (5.72mg/100g), lead (0.01mg/100g), cobalt (nil) and cadmium (nil). The high protein and fibre contents as well as other proximate components are a desirable attribute. The concentration of iron shows that Mucuna poggei leaves could help in boosting of blood level in anaemic conditions. The phytochemical screening of the leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, balsams and triterpenoids. These results rank the leaves of Mucuna poggei among the best in terms of essential nutrients composition when compared with those of other edible leaves in literature.
Highlights
It has been observed that there is an increased awareness on the importance of wild or semi-wild plants owing to their high vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fibre contents (Tukan et al, 1998)
Conventional food plants have the capabilities of providing most of the nutrients needed for energy, body building, maintenance and regulation of body processes, the need to explore some seemingly unappealing sources of nutrient have become imperative owing to the serious threat to growth, development and survival posed by increasing population, food insecurity and economic crises in most developing nations like Nigeria (Hassan et al, 2007)
Mucuna poggei is one of such plants with physical characteristics that are repelling to both human and animals from getting closer. It is of the family: Fabaceae, Subfamily: Faboideae, Tribe: Phaseoleae, Subtribe: Erythrininae, Genus: Mucuna, Species: poggei and Variety: Mucuna poggei var. pesa (GRIN, 2006)
Summary
It has been observed that there is an increased awareness on the importance of wild or semi-wild plants owing to their high vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fibre contents (Tukan et al, 1998). Conventional food plants have the capabilities of providing most of the nutrients needed for energy, body building, maintenance and regulation of body processes, the need to explore some seemingly unappealing sources of nutrient have become imperative owing to the serious threat to growth, development and survival posed by increasing population, food insecurity and economic crises in most developing nations like Nigeria (Hassan et al, 2007). Mucuna poggei is one of such plants with physical characteristics that are repelling to both human and animals from getting closer It is of the family: Fabaceae, Subfamily: Faboideae, Tribe: Phaseoleae, Subtribe: Erythrininae, Genus: Mucuna, Species: poggei and Variety: Mucuna poggei var. It is widely distributed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Hyde, 2012) It is known as “horse eye bean” and other local names in respect to different tribes and ethnic groups exist. This study focuses on the phytochemical screening, mineral analysis and the proximate analysis of Mucuna poggei leaves with a view to assessing its nutritional potentials in relation to its ethnomedicinal uses
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