Nutritional profiling of garden egg stalk Solanum macrocarpum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae)

Charity U Ogunka-Nnoka,Deborah Ekrika

doi:10.21472/bjbs.051007

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional properties of Solanum macrocarpum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) (garden egg) stalk using standard methods. Sulphates and chloride were the most abundant anions while calcium and magnesium were the predominant mineral cations. Results for the proximate composition showed high carbohydrates (27.70%), fibre contents (22.94%), and ash (18.83%) while the phytochemical composition showed higher ribalinidine, catechin, and phenol contents. Vitamin B6, C, A, and B12 were found in higher concentrations, while lysine (9.48 g/100 g), phenylalanine (6.86 g/100 g), leucine (6.59 g/100 g), and arginine (5.66 g/100 g) were the predominant essential amino acids. Results for the free radical scavenging potentials showed higher DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and ABTS radical scavenging potentials for the garden egg stalk, while their ferric reducing antioxidant power, superoxide and lipid peroxide scavenging were comparable to the standards used. This study has shown the high nutrient density of the garden egg stalk, thus encouraging its inclusion for dietary uses.

Highlights

Vegetables are useful components of the diet due to their contributions in forming a balanced diet.They are found among a vast amount of plant species that can serve as readily available proteinous sources and herbs.The efficacies of various kinds of herbs have been widely explored, and because of their distribution in different localities have availed the opportunity for traditional herbalists to ensure affordable treatment of ailments
The fat contents of the eggplant in this study compared with those of leafy vegetables (Udosen, 1995), while the result of this study further indicated that the eggplant is a better carbohydrate source when compared to those for its fruit varieties; S. aethiopicum and S. macrocarpum (Nwodo et al, 2011)
Notwithstanding that the amounts of the water soluble vitamins found in the eggplant stalk were lower than their recommended daily allowance, their levels presented in this study, were greater when compared to some plants with notable health benefits (Ikewuchi and Ikewuchi, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Vegetables are useful components of the diet due to their contributions in forming a balanced diet.They are found among a vast amount of plant species that can serve as readily available proteinous sources and herbs.The efficacies of various kinds of herbs have been widely explored, and because of their distribution in different localities have availed the opportunity for traditional herbalists to ensure affordable treatment of ailments. From the results of this study, the eggplant stalk contains poor moisture content, which was lower than the eggplant fruit itself (Nwodo et al, 2011). Both the ash and fibre contents of the eggplant stalk in this study were greater than that of the fruit itself (Nwodo et al, 2011) as well as those for some other vegetables reported by Asaolu et al (2012).

Results

Conclusion