Nutritional properties of Nauclea latifolia root and leaves

Abstract

Nauclea latifolia is a medicinal plant that is valuable and native to Africa and Asia. It has served as herbal medicine for treating different ailments and diseases. The importance of herbal plants is not just for their medicinal effects but also their nutritional value. This study determined the proximate, vitamin, and mineral compositions of N. latifolia root and leaves using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The result revealed that N. latifolia root has moisture (5.436%), ash (7.377%), crude fat (5.012%), crude fibre (4.769%), crude protein (6.30%), carbohydrate (71.106%), while the leaf contains moisture (4.127%), ash (5.998 %), crude fat (3.998 %), crude fibre (6.713 %), crude protein (11.90 %), and carbohydrates (67.264%). On the other, vitamins A, C, D and E were 28.65 mg/L, 188.165 mg/100g of extract, 42 mg/L, and 23.86 mg/L, respectively, in the root and 15.197 mg/L, 783.20 mg/100 g, 45.60 mg/L, and 14.095 mg/L, respectively in the leaves. The root and leaf mineral content ranges from 0.351 to 8.278 ppm and 0.135 to 7.988 ppm, respectively. N. latifolia root and leaves have an appreciable content of vitamins A, C, D, and E. They contain reasonable amounts of minerals like phosphorus, calcium, zinc, ıron, magnesium, sodium and potassium. They could be a good source of carbohydrates, protein, and fibre for the development of the body. Their low ash and moisture contents make their storage easy. Therefore, N. latifolia root and leaves will make a good nutrient source for the ever-growing human population