Leptadenia Hastata Research Articles

English

English

Phytochemical screening and in-vitro activities of dichloromethane leaf extract of leptadenia hastata (pers.) decne against pathogens

Phytochemical screening and in-vitro activities of dichloromethane leaf extract of leptadenia hastata (pers.) decne against pathogens

Antioxidant Properties and Antibacterial Activities of Leptadenia Hastata Leaves Extracts on Staphylococcus Aureus

Leptadenia hastata extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity and antioxidant properties. The leaf of the plant was extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol to give respective extracts. The Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, was determined by disc diffusion method. Antioxidant activity was assayed by the DPPH radical scavenging activity mechanism. The results showed that of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, chloroform and methanol extracts of Leptadenia hastata, methanol extract and chloroform extracts displayed more activity with 1.10 ± 0.10ab and 0.97 ± 0.06ab than others at 25-1000ppm/desk of the extracts tested. The most antioxidant activities against DPPH were displayed by the hexane and methanol extracts of Leptadenia hastata leaf, exhibiting IC50 (63.44I¼g/mL) and IC50 (46.80I¼g/mL) respectively, followed by chloroform, dichloromethane and lastly ethyl acetate crude extract. The present results showed potential of the medicinal plant used by traditional herbal medical practitioners as natural anti-microbial, antioxidant and potentially antiinflammatory agents. The results confirm that Leptadenia hastata leaves extracts can be used as a source of drugs to fight infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

Nutritional Potential of Two Leafy Vegetables <i>Leptadenia hastata</i> Decne and <i>Senna obtusifolia</i> Link Consumed in Senegal

This study focused on two woody leafy vegetables Leptadenia hastata Decne and Senna obtusifolia Link, commonly consumed in Senegal. Leaves were col-lected from three regions. Then, proximate analyses and micronutrients were carried out to evaluate their nutritional values. Results revealed that protein level of S. obtusifolia (SO) is richer (21.75%) than Leptadenia hastata (LH) (18.16%). The cellulose and carbohydrate contents of the two vegetable’s leaves are in the same order except those of LH from Widou which are less rich in cellulose (8.31%) and richest in carbohydrate (6.35%). These leaves are also good sources of various mineral elements and especially iron. Leaves of LH appear to be richer in iron and magnesium, while SO appears to be richer in calcium. Vitamin C intakes of SO leaves are better than those of LH and respectively range from 142 to 196.5 and 22.5 to 159.5 mg/100 g. According to the use of this leafy vegetable by the populations, a domestication opportunity is thus justified to ensure availability and accessibility of these significant sources of micronutrients.

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Actions of Chloroform Crude Extract of Leptadenia hastata (Pers) Decnee

Objective: The study presented here was carried out for the evaluation of bacterial and cytotoxic potential of chloroform extract of Leaves of Leptadenia hastata. The Bacterial effects was tested against 4 bacteria namely Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsielia pneumonia. Methods: The bacterial effect of the plant Leptadenia hastata was evaluated for potential antimicrobial properties in vitro by agar well diffusion method with four standard bacterial strains. Artemia salina; a brine shrimp species; was used to asses’ cytotoxic activity of the plant extract. Result: Among the subjected four bacteria; in case of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Salmonella typhi; their zone of inhibition was higher (1.13 ± 0.15, 1.23 ± 0.12 and 1.03 ± 0.06) at 1000 ppm concentration. Whereas in the case of Klebsielia pneumonia, the zone of inhibition was higher (1.13 ± 0.06) at 500 ppm. The extract exhibited effectiveness against the four species of bacteria was significant. Cytotoxicity property which was reflected in LC50 value and was found to be dose dependent manner Conclusion: The present results showed potential of the medicinal plant used by traditional herbal medical practitioners as natural anti-bacteria and can effectively be used for its significant action. It is also an effective cytotoxic agent and thus justify its use among herbal medical practitioners.

English

The intention of this research work is to publish an attractive texts giving an integrated overview of the plant Leptadenia hastata as a natural product and a novel drug agent. the effect of different concentrations of Leptadenia hastata on pathogenic organism ( Fungal) was also studied. This will be valuable to students and Lecturers in Medicinal Biochemistry and Pharmacology who wish to gain an overall view of this vast potential of natural product. In this work the researchers have gone extensively in updating the approach to study of natural products and plant potency against pathogens. This will serve as a valuable that addresses new approach to this ever-changing research field and will be essential reading for any professional researcher.

In vitro antitrypanosomal and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of selected Nigerian plants

ABSTRACTThe methanol extracts of Acacia albida (stem bark), Pericopsis laxiflora (leaves and stem bark), Artemisia absinthium (leaf), Gongronema latifolium (leaf), and Leptadenia hastata (leaf) were tested in vitro for antitrypanosomal and antioxidant properties. Stem bark extract of P. laxiflora was the most effective against the motility of the protozoans. Preliminary phytochemical analyses indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides and saponins in all extracts and the absence of anthraquinones. All extracts had terpenes except that from P. laxiflora stem bark; all extracts had flavonoids except those from A. albida and P. laxiflora stem barks. The methanol leaf extracts of A. absinthium and G. latifolium had the greatest flavonoids while the stem bark extract of P. laxiflora had the highest total phenol. The extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. P. laxiflora stem bark had the highest scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. A. albida, P. laxiflora, and A. absinthium had the greatest scavenging power against H2O2 with EC50 of 0.92, 1.2, and 1.10 mg mL−1, respectively.

Proximate nutrient composition of some wild edible medicinal plants from Uganda

There are high levels of malnutrition especially among children in Africa. In Uganda, this is compounded by widespread food insecurity. There are various wild edible plant species in Uganda. However, little research has been carried out to document and validate the claims associated with their use. A study was, therefore, carried out to analyse the nutritional contents of six commonly used wild edible medicinal plant species from Nebbi district in Northwestern Uganda. These plants were Erythrococca bongensis, Grewia trichocarpa, Leptadenia hastata, Nymphaea lotus, Oxygonum sinuatum and Talinum portulacifolium. The plants were selected mainly because of their use as both food and medicine. All the selected plant species have documented medicinal uses among the local communities in Nebbi district where they are used. However, many of them are often neglected and underutilized, despite their potential therapeutic and nutritional benefits. The vitamin C, β-carotene, macronutrient, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium compositions of the selected edible parts of the plant species were analysed. With the exception of Grewia trichocarpa fruits and Nymphaea lotus seeds, the leaves of Talinum portulacifolium had higher Fe (4.54±0.07 mg/100g), P (0.31±0.01 mg/100g), Mg (0.3±0.3 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.275±0.00 μg/100g) and crude ash (22.13±0.19%) contents than the rest of the plant species. The leaves of Leptadenia hastata had higher levels of vitamin C (17.93±2.01 mg/100g) than the leaves of other plant species. All the plant species analysed were richer in iron than the common cabbage Brassica oleracea var capitata. There were significant differences in the nutritional contents of the plant species analysed (p<0.05). However, the nutrient values of the plant extracts were generally much lower, providing a small percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance or Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) values. The vitamin C, β-carotene and other nutrient contents of most of the plant species analysed were generally comparable or even higher than those of the common cabbage in some instances. Consumption and conservation of these plant species should be encouraged by local authorities because they not only supplement the local staples with the much needed nutrients, but they could also have medicinal properties. Key words: Wild, edible, Medicinal plants, Nutrient, Food-security, food, underutilized, Uganda

In-vitro Antifungal Evaluation of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Leptadenia hastata on Malassezia species

In-vitro antifungal evaluation of two plant extracts (Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Leptadenia hastata) was carried on Malassezia spp. using agar well-diffusion method. The ethanolic extraction of the bark of cinnamon spp. yielded more extract than leaves of L. hastata with a percentage yield of 6.20 and 4.28, respectively. At the concentration of 20 mg/ml, Cinnamon had the greatest activity with a zone of inhibition measuring 28 mm followed by L. hastata with 24 mm at the same concentration. Concentrations of 10 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml also show antifungal effects on the test organism. Cinnamon had an MIC value of 5 mg/ml while that of L. hasta was 20 mg/ml with an MFC of 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml, respectively. The phytochemical screening of the extracts show the presence of Saponins, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids, which might be responsible for the antifungal effects of the extracts on Malassezia spp. The findings of this work suggests that infections by Malassezia spp. can be treated using Cinnamon spp. or Leptadenia hastata.&#x0D;

Proximate, minerals and antinutrient assessment of the leaves and tenderstem of &lt;i&gt;Leptadenia hastate&lt;/i&gt; (pers.) decne

The study evaluated the proximate, minerals and antinutrient contents of the plant Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) decne (Asclepiadaceae). Nutrient and antinutritional factors were determined using standard analytical methods and parameters subjected to statistical analysis. Manganese (Mn), Calcium (Ca) and Cobalt (Co) were found to be significantly (p 0.05) different when compared in the leaves and tender stem. Correlation analysis indicated that antinutrient contents in the tender stems will not affect the mineral absorption in the leaves while negative correlation between Fe and Cu in the stems could affect the absorption of iron. Therefore, Leptadenia hastata leave and tender stem consumed in soup and local salad in northern Nigeria proved to be rich in minerals and nutrients to support its dietary role as a consumed vegetable. Keywords : Leptadenia hastata, Minerals, Proximate, Antinutrients, Tender stems, Leaves

In vitro screening for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors from selected Nigerian medicinal plants.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) have been identified as one of the drug targets for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes. This study was designed to screen for PTP 1B and DPP-IV inhibitors from some Nigerian medicinal plants. PTP 1B and DPP-IV drug discovery kits from Enzo Life Sciences were used to investigate in vitro inhibitory effect of crude methanolic extract of 10 plants; Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera, Acacia nilotica, Arachis hypogaea, Senna nigricans, Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera, Leptadenia hastata, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Solanum incanum. The results indicated PTP IB inhibition by S. nigricans (68.2 ± 2.29%), A. indica (67.4 ± 2.80%), A. hypogaea (57.2 ± 2.50%), A. nilotica (55.1 ± 2.19%), and M. oleifera (41.2 ± 1.87%) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher as compared with standard inhibitor, sumarin while that of L. hastata (18.1 ± 2.00%) was significantly lower as compared with sumarin. The PTB 1B inhibition by M. indica (31.5 ± 1.90%) was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that of sumarin. The DPP-IV inhibition by S. incanum (68.1 ± 2.71%) was significantly higher as compared with a known inhibitor, P32/98. S. nigrican (57.0±1.91%), Z. mauritiana (56.6±2.01%), A. hypogaea (51.0±1.30%), M. indica (44.6 ± 2.40%), C. procera (36.2 ± 2.00%), A. nilotica (35.4 ± 2.10%), and A. indica (33.6 ± 1.50%) show significantly (P < 0.05) lower inhibitions toward DPP-IV. The work demonstrated that these plant materials could serve as sources of lead compounds in the development of anti-diabetic agent(s) targeting PTP 1B and/or DPP-IV.

In vitro antitrypanosomal activity, antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extracts of nine Nigerian medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo study the in vitro antitrypanosomal activity, antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extracts of nine Nigerian medicinal plants. MethodsIn vitro antitrypanosomal activity test was carried out on aqueous extracts of dried leaves of Acacia albida (A. albida), Artemisia absinthium, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Gongronema latifolium, Holarrhena floribunda, Leptadenia hastata, Pericopsis laxiflora (P. laxiflora) and dried stem barks of A. albida and P. laxiflora. The phytochemical constituents and composition of the extracts and the in vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts were subsequently measured using the α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) activity assay and H2O2 radical scavenging activity assay. ResultsFrom the study, it was discovered that the stem bark extracts of A. albida and P. laxiflora were most active against both Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma congolense. There was complete cessation of motility in both trypanosomes within 5 min at 40 mg/mL of the stem bark extract of A. albida and complete cessation of motility within 25 min and 40 min at 40 mg/mL with P. laxiflora stem bark extract for Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma evansi, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extracts of the plant parts such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenols revealed that the stem barks of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Leptadenia hastata contained relatively high amount of all the phytochemicals quantified. The stem bark extracts of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Gongronema latifolium possess more scavenging capacity when compared to other extracts in relation to vitamin C, the reference antioxidant. ConclusionsThis study provides scientific evidence for the use of A. albida, and P. laxiflora for the treatment of trypanosomosis and diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Effects of Processing Methods of Leptadenia Hastata on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of processing methods of Leptadenia hastata on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. Thirty weaner rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes aged 5-6weeks with an average weight of 650.20g were used for the study. Five diets were formulated with L. hastata that was either washed in water (FRH), hot water processed (HWP), shade dried (SHD), oven dried (OVD) or sun dried (SUD). The rabbits were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments and were replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Results showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in all the parameters measured for growth performance. Nutrient digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments. DM digestibility was significantly higher (65.60%) in T1 (FRH) while the lowest value (62.21%) was observed in T5 (SUD). CP digestibility ranged from 34.37-53.04% while the EE was between 70.10-79.03%. The digestibility values for CF and NFE ranged from 40.31-66.15% and 84.00-87.67% respectively. The carcass evaluation revealed that pelt, carcass weight and dressing percentages were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 (HWP). The weight of liver, lungs and kidney were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 (FSH). The spleen, stomach, caecal weight, caecal length, large intestine weight and small intestine length were all similar across the treatments. It can therefore be concluded that all the processing methods except the FRH can be used to improve the nutritional profile of L. hastata for improved rabbit production.

Combined effects of testosterone propionate and Leptadenia hastata Pers. (Decne) aqueous extracts on immature castrated male rats

To evaluate the competition between testosterone propionate (TP) and Leptadenia hastata aqueous extracts, immature castrated male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. L. hastata aqueous extracts reduced significantly the weight of androgen-dependant sex glands, the level of phosphatase acid prostatic (PAP) and fructose in seminal vesicles and prostate, and the serum testosterone level. When TP was administered simultaneously with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of L. hastata aqueous extracts, a potentiate action was observed with 100 mg/kg of L. hastata by the increase of androgen-dependant sex glands weights, fructose and PAP levels in seminal vesicles and prostate, and the serum testosterone level. The anti-androgenic effect of L. hastata appeared with the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg which reduced significantly the weight of androgen-dependant sex glands, fructose and PAP levels in seminal vesicles and prostate and serum testosterone level. From these findings, it was concluded that the effect of TP was potentiated with low doses of L. hastata and antagonized with high doses. This study confirmed the anti-androgenic effects of L. hastata aqueous extracts in immature castrated male rats. Key words: Leptadenia hastata , testosterone propionate, anti-androgenic activity, rats. INTRODUCTION The increasing interest in the effects of the components of plant extracts on humans and wildlife has been reflected in the number of recent papers and international conferences devoted to this topic (Weisburger, 1999; Arbonnier, 2000; Vasudeva and Sharma, 2006). Plant-derived chemicals that influence endocrine activities in both humans and animals have received a great deal of attention due to their possible beneficial as well as adverse effects (Gamache and Acworth, 1998). Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne (Asclepediaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant of West Africa, commonly

Leptadenia hastata: A Review of its Traditional uses and its Pharmacological Activity

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is often used traditionally for hypertension, catarrh, skin diseases, woundhealing, prostate complaints and as an aphrodisiac. In traditional systems of medicine, different parts are used including the leaves, latex, roots and even whole plant. Leptadenia hastata is reported to contain alkaloids, saponins, phenolic glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and triterpenes. This review describes the medicinal properties, chemical constituents, and other important aspects of Leptadenia hastata.

Validating the medicinal potential of Leptadenia hastata

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is a wild plant used as vegetable by many African populations and medicine due to its nutritive and therapeutic properties for the treatment of wounds and stomach upset in children. Acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts from its leaves were investigated against five selected bacterial species and two fungal species. Aqueous extract markedly inhibited the growth ofSalmonella paratyphi and Escherichia coli at 30 mg/ml and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 60 mg/ml. The activity exhibited by the methanol extract was generally low and acetone extract did not show any activity against the tested organisms. The result of antimycotic assay showed that methanol extract suppressed the growth of Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger at 80 mg/ml with inhibition percentages ranging from 58.89 to 73.30%. The activity of acetone extract was low with 40 and 50% inhibition on the growth of A. niger and F. oxysporum respectively. The result obtained in this study has provided a scientific support for the claimed ethnomedical uses of aqueous extracts of L. hastata in the treatment of bacterial diseases and suggest the potential of methanol extract as a source of antifungal agent. Keywords: Leptadenia hastata, antibacterial, antifungal, wild vegetable, ethnomedicine

Traditional Leafy Vegetables In Senegal: Diversity And Medicinal Uses

Six administrative regions of Senegal were investigated. Forty species of vegetable leaves which are traditionally consumed in Senegal have been inventoried. All species are members of twenty-one families the most numerous of which are Amaranthaceae Juss., Malvaceae Juss., Moraceae Link., the Papilionaceae Giseke and Tiliaceae Juss. The species are subdivided into three groups: cultivated leafy vegetables, plants gathered annually, perennial sub-ligneous and ligneous species. The gathered species represent 67.5% of the inventory, 40.7% of which is ligneous. Cultivated species account for 32.5% of the inventory. The species are consumed for their medicinal properties, nutritive value and eating habits linked to specific ethnic traditions. During the drought years, with the scarcity of main food (millet, mays) consumption of leafy vegetables is high. All species reported except Sesuvium portulacastrum L. are consumed like vegetable herbs. The species of Hibiscus are eaten in spinach and condiment form while Sesuvium portulacastrum L is cooked in salad. Of the forty species examined, eleven are widely consumed. Within the entire study area, Hibiscus sabdariffa predominates among species consumed, followed by Moringa oleifera Lam. and Senna obtusifolia Link. A high consumption level of some species like amarante, Corchorus tridens L., Corchorus aestuans L., Leptadenia hastata Decne. and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp is confined to certain areas. In addition to their consumption as vegetables, the medicinal uses of 57.5% of these is of primary importance. The most commonly exploited parts are, respectively, leaf (40%), roots (20%), and bark (13.3%). Among the numerous pathologies treated, abscess, constipation, and rheumatism are predominant followed by aphrodisiac uses. The Amaranthus spp. L., Leptadenia hastata Decne., Senna obtusifolia Link., Adansonia digitata L. and Tamarindus indica L. are species with multiple medicinal uses.

Ecological distribution, morphological characteristics and acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of &lt;i&gt;Holarrhena floribunda&lt;/i&gt; (G. Don) Durand &amp; Schinz, &lt;i&gt;Leptadenia hastata&lt;/i&gt; (Pers.) Decne and &lt;i&gt;Cassia sieberiana&lt;/i&gt; (DC) used by veterinary healers in Burkina Faso

As reproductive disorders were found to be one of the major constraints of livestock improvement in Burkina Faso, an ethno-veterinary survey showed that some plant species are used by traditional veterinary healers as basic components of indigenous recipes to treat them. The ecological locations, the current relative abundance in the area and the acute toxicity of the aqueous extracts of three selected species: Holarrhena floribunda,. Leptadenia hastata and Cassia sieberiana were also investigated. The abundance of the plants was carried out in villages with semi-structured interviews of vet-healers, in-situ observations and then completion with library documentation while the acute toxicity was done in mice. The results showed that LDB50Bs of 495 mg/kg, 24 mg/kg and 1513 mg/kg were observed for Holarrhena floribunda, Cassia sieberiana and Leptadenia hastata respectively. The relative abundance of these species across Burkina Faso is variable. Leptadenia hastata is widely distributed, while Holarrhena floribunda is very scarce because of its high demand. Cassia sieberiana's case is worrisome because the plant's root is the basic material required. The LD quotient and LDB50B obtained for Leptadenia hastata show that the plant is safe to use. Although the LDB50 Bobtained for Holarrhena floribunda is higher than that of Cassia sieberiana their LD quotients did not meet acceptable safety calculated value. However, it is more difficult to get enough crude material of Holarrhena floribunda and Cassia sieberiana. There is, therefore, an urgent need to build a sustainable scheme for these endangered species and their preservation. Key Words: Acute toxicity; Ecology; Relative abundance; Holarrhena floribunda; Leptadenia hastata; Cassia sieberiana. Afr. J. Trad. Comp. Alt. Med. , 2005, 2 (1): 13-24

Nutrient and Chemical Composition of 13 Wild Plant Foods of Niger

Human populations of the western Sahel depend upon a number of wild plant foods to satisfy a substantial part of their nutritional requirements, and this dependency increases during times of drought. However, the database of the nutrient and chemical compositions of these wild plant foods is incomplete and fragmentary. Herein we report the lipid, fatty acid, amino acid, total protein and mineral content of 13 wild plant foods collected in the Republic of Niger in 1996. Four plants contained 20–29% protein on a dry wt. basis: Bombax costatum fruit, Leptadenia hastata leaves, ataruhu (Hausa name) fruit, and the seeds of Parkia biglobosa. Ataruhu leaves compared most favorably with a World Health Organization protein standard. Plants which contained substantial amounts of one or both of the essential fatty acids (linoleic andα -linolenic acids) were Capsicum spp. fruit, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Leptadenia hastata leaves. Entada africana leaves and Leptadenia hastata leaves were rich sources of calcium. Zinc concentrations were highest in the mesocarp and seeds of Hibiscus esculentus fruit. Three plants contained relatively high levels of iron: Leptadenia hastata leaves, ataruhu fruit and Entada africana leaves. These data will be of use in determining which plants should be preferentially utilized and conserved to benefit the overall nutrition of populations who inhabit the Sahel

Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the Republic of Niger.

In the western Sahel, indigenous plants become important staples when cereal harvests are inadequate to support populations inhabiting that region of Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient content of several of these edible wild plants. The leaves of the following seven plant foods were analyzed: Ziziphus mauritiana, Cerathotheca sesamoides, Moringa oleifera, Leptadenia hastata, Hibiscus sabdarifa, Amaranthus viridis, and Adansonia digitata. The fatty acid, vitamin E, carotenoid, selected mineral and amino acid contents of these plant foods were determined. These same analyses were performed on the fruit of the Adanisonia digitata. In quantitative and qualitative terms, Amaranthus viridis was found to be an excellent source of protein. Its amino acid composition compared favorably to that of a World Health Organization (WHO) protein standard. It also contained considerable amounts of the two fatty acids that are essential in humans (linoleic and alpha-linolenic) and a number of minerals including iron, magnesium. calcium and zinc. The leaves of Hibiscus sabdarifa contained an appreciable quantity of protein the composition of which was comparable to the WHO standard. The mineral content of the leaves of this plant was also exceptionally high; noteworthy was its high zinc content. H. sabdarifa also contained significant quantities of the two essential fatty acids. Ziziphus mauritiana was an excellent source of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and several of the metals including iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Its content of other essential nutrients, however, was rather low. In general, Adansonia digitata leaves were nutritionally superior to the fruit of the tree; however, the fruit did contain useful quantities of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and alpha-linolenic acid. The Leptadenia hastata leaves were an especially good source of lutein and beta-carotene. These data should be useful to the people who inhabit the western Sahel in helping them devise healthy diets during times when cereal staples are in short supply.