Evaluation of mineral composition and proximate analysis of selected wild leafy vegetables in Hong Adamawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

The proximate analysis and mineral composition of some selected wild and consumed leafy vegetables in Hong Adamawa State of Nigeria were studied to determine their nutritional content using standard method of analysis. The Vegetables include Baobab, Blood plum, Bombax costatum and Ndaha. The results of the mineral composition show the following range Ca (74.612±0.008 - 203.542±2.001mg/kg), Cd (0.001±0.000 - 0.003±0.001mg/kg), Pb (0.001±0.000 - 0.002±0.001mg/kg), Mn (3.440±0.003 - 13.085±0.811mg/kg), Mg (22.831±0.451 - 124.156±2.23mg/kg) and Zn (0.085±0.003 - 3.015±0.031mg/kg). The proximate analyses revealed the following range of result, Ash content (6.00 - 17.00%), Moisture content (4.50 – 6.00%), Crude fibre (1.32 - 5.15%), Crude lipid (2.44 - 11.17%), Crude Protein (27.2 – 36.78%) and Carbohydrate 38 – 47.74%). The wild vegetables contain appreciable amount of essential nutrient and mineral elements needed for the maintenance of good nutritional status and thus can compete favorably with commonly consumed vegetables.