Proximate, Antinutritional and Mineral Estimation of Some Selected Consumed Green Vegetables in Afaha Eket, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study evaluated the proximate, antinutritional and mineral contents of five selected vegetables consumed by Afaha Eket indigenes, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Standard analytical procedures were employed in this assay. The analysed leafy vegetables include; Telferia occidentalis, Ocimum grattissimum, Lasianthera africana, Heinsia crinita and Gnetum africanum. The result of the proximate analysis showed greater amount as follows; Protein (O. grattissimum, 28.27%), fibre (O. grattissimum, 9.62%), ash (G. africanum, 7.39%), moisture (G. africanum, 10.35%), Carbohydrate (L. Africana, 47.47%) and crude fat (O. grattissimum, 8.17%) when comparatively evaluated. The Antinutritional assay revealed the presence of oxalate and phytic acid in all the tested leafy vegetables. Oxalate was highest in O. grattissimum (9.72 mg/g) and least in L. Africana (5.28 mg/g) while highest phytic acid value was recorded in T. occidentalis (18.09 mg/g) followed by G. africanum (16.29 mg/g) and least in H. crinita (7.34 mg/g). Mineral analysis of this study showed the highest concentration (mg/g) values; copper (O. grattissimum, 13.92), iron (L. africana, 3.28), magnesium (O. grattissimum, 9.49) and zinc (L. africana, 19.97). The finding of this study therefore showed that the tested leafy vegetables are nutritionally sound to the living system.