1Ajai, Alex Ikechukwu.*, 1Mohammed, Suleiman Dauda 2Inobeme, Abel

Presented at American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria International Chemical Chapter Symposium. 19-22nd, March, 2017 at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

DETERMINATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ESSENTIAL MINERALS IN SELECTED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES IN MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

1AJAI, ALEX IKECHUKWU.*, 1MOHAMMED, SULEIMAN DAUDA& 2INOBEME, ABEL

1. Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State,Nigeria

2. Department of Chemistry, Edo University, Iyamho, Edo State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The phytochemical and mineral compositions of selected vegetables in Minna metropolis were investigated using standard procedures. The results of the analysis showed that the concentrations of the secondary metabolites in the selected vegetables were as follows: alkaloids (4.00±2.00 to 9.33±4.16mg/100g), flavonoids (40.00±20.00 to 73.33±11.55 mg/100g), tannins (14.67±4.16 to 33.33±1.53 mg/100g), saponins (4.67±3.06 to 8.00±2.00 mg/100g), Phytates (7.56±4.36 to 68.83±17.47 mg/100g) and oxalate (19.65±0.08 to 34.39±0.28 mg/100g). B. oleracea had the highest amount of alkaloids (9.33±4.16mg/100g) while L.sativa had the least (4.00±2.0). All the vegetables investigated contained appreciable amount of flavonoids. M. Oleifera had the highest amount of flavonoids (73.33±11.55mg/100g).The flavonoids content varied significantly among the vegetables at p<0.05. The value of anti-nutritional factors obtained from this research show that they may not pose any negative effects based on the limit set by WHO for these anti-nutrients in food. The results obtained show that the content of the minerals ranged from (1070±56.59to 2742±1.53 mg/100g), (1175±1.53 to 5420±2.0 mg/100g), (2.61±1.46 to 8.61±4.77mg/100g), (12.42±1.15 to 37.08±0.73), (1407±3.79 to 5623±123.23 mg/100g), and (0.64±0.05 to 2.23±0.30 mg/100g) for Ca, K, Zn, Fe, Na and Cr respectively. All the vegetables analysed had appreciable amount of K. The highest amount of Ca was recorded in B. oleracea.A.Caudatus had the highest amount of P, Zn, Fe and Cr among the various vegetables investigated.These results showed that these green leafy vegetables contain appreciable amounts of nutrients, essential minerals and low level of anti-nutrientshence can act as good dietary supplements for man and other animals. DETERMINATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ESSENTIAL MINERALS IN SELECTED GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES IN MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA by 1AJAI, ALEX IKECHUKWU.*, 1MOHAMMED, SULEIMAN DAUDA& 2INOBEME, ABEL is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.