Proximate Analysis, Vitamins, Moisture Content and Mineral Elements Determination in Leaves of Solanum erianthum and Glyphaea brevis

Abstract

Nigeria is solitary of the richest floristic region of Africa continent and have been a resource of plants and their yields used predominantly as food or as medicine for centuries. The study involves the qualitative and quantity assay of the proximate composition using standard methods, elemental determination using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and vitamin content using UV-visible spectrophotometer. The result of proximate composition showed appreciable amount of crude fibre (9.56%; 29.17%), carbohydrate (33.00%; 28.50%), crude protein (13.55%; 10.07%), ash (19.23%; 9.14%) and crude fat (2.79%; 9.03%) for Solanum erianthum and Glyphae brevis respectively. Similarly, the leaves recorded high values of these elements: potassium (124.77±0.83; 101.54±0.58 mg/100g), magnesium (77.24±0.24; 69.95±0.24 mg/100g), iron (13.11±0.26; 11.74±0.25 mg/100g) respectively. Vitamins A, B (1, 2, 3, 6&12), C&E were detected. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) had the highest concentration (232.75±1.25 mg/L; 166.25±1.25 mg/L) and B2 (riboflavin) the lowest (0.037±0.00 mg/L; 0.032±0.00mg/L) respectively for Solanum erianthum and Glyphae brevis. The study revealed that the two plants (Solanum erianthum and Glyphae brevis) could be a good source of food and medicine.