EVALUATION OF THE PROXIMATE AND SOME SLECTED MINERAL ELEMENTS COMPOSITION OF SOLANUM SCABRUM MILL LEAF.

*Ngobidi K. C., Igbokwe G. E., Okwuosa B. O., Osigwe A. O., Ngobidi C. N. and Adindu S. C.

ABSTRACT

The current study focused at determining the proximate and mineral value of solanuin scabrum Mill using the standard analytical methods in order to assess the numerous potentials of the plant leaf. The proximate analysis showed the percentage moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrate of the leaves as 56.77, 5.97, 12.07, 5.40, 1.65 and 18.29% respectively. Elemental analysis in mg/100g indicated that the leaves contained calcium (14.45), iron,(0.6), magnesium (0.38), zinc (1.20), chromium (0.97), selenium (0.56) and phosphorus (0.03). The results obtained in this study suggest it is rich in protein, carbohydrate and elemental nutrients analyzed but could have short shelf life because of its high moisture content. It could therefore serve as source of some of these elemental nutrient analyzed in the diet for normal and in nutrient deficiencies.

Keywords: proximate analysis, solanuin scabrum, mineral elements.