PROXIMATE ANALYSIS, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF SOME WILD EDIBLE PLANTS IN MAKURDI BENUE STATE
Abstract
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ABSTRACT
Nigeria is blessed with diverse of plants and addressing the issue of malnutrition can be facilitated by promoting the use of wild plants which provide cost effective source of protein and other nutritional benefits. This study investigated some edible wild plants and their nutritional composition in Makurdi, Benue state. Nine (9) wild edible vegetables namely: Piliostigma thonningii (Monkey bread), Fiscus sur (Cape fig), Ceiba pentandra (Kapok tree), Vitex doniana (Black plum), Kigelia Africana (Sausage tree), Prosopis Africana (African Mesquite), Parkia biglobosa ( African Locust Bean) , Bombax costatum (Red Kapok tree), and Cissus pulponea (Okoho) were obtained from the Botanical Garden of the Benue State University Makurdi. The collected samples were dried at room temperature for 5days. The plant materials were pulverized into powder using wooden laboratory mortar and pestle. The powdered samples were taken to Chemistry Laboratory of the Benue State University for proximate analysis and phytochemical screening. Mineral composition of the powdered samples was carried out at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi. Data collected were analysed using Analysis of Variance and Means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The Proximate analysis showed that Crude ash and moisture were significantly higher in Fiscus sur (13.95±0.06) and Ceiba pentandra (10.05±0.20) respectively while fat and fibre were significantly higher in Piliostigma thonningii (3.86±0.04 and 1.18±0.04) respectively. Protein content (27.50±0.04) was significantly higher in Prosopis africana. There was no significant difference in carbohydrates content among the vegetables. The mineral composition showed that Nitrogen (24.81±0.00), Zinc (17.08±0.00), Iron (63.16±0.00) were significantly higher in Ceiba pentandra; Potassium (58.78±0.00), Calcium (75.13±0.00) were significantly higher in Prosopis Africana;Iodine (52.02±0.00), Magnesium (60.10±0.00) were significantly higher in Bombax costatum while Copper (1.19±0.00), Sodium (61.00±0.00) and Phosphorus (52.03±0.00) were significantly higher in Piliostigma thonningii, Fiscus sur and Kigelia africana respectively. The results on the phytochemical screening showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as; alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, phenols, phlobatanin and cardiac glycosides ranging from moderately present to high abundance. The wild edible vegetables in Makurdi possessed varying levels of nutrient and mineral composition which are vital for proper functioning of the body system. Thus, further research should be done on quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents of the wild edible plants and involving more wild edible plants
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