Sci.Int.(Lahore),28(6),5251-5255,2016 ISSN 1013-5316;CODEN: SINTE 8 5251 SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN NUTRITIONAL AND ELEMENTAL PROFILE OF MAKO (Solanum nigrum) COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT TEHSILS OF DISTRICT MIANWALI, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN Abdul Ghani1, Muhammad Nadeem2, Muhammad Mehrban Ahmed3, Mujahid Hussain4, Muhammad Ikram5 and Muhammad Imran6 1,3,4,5,6 Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan 2 Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Corresponding Author:
[email protected] Key words: Spatial variation, Nutritional composition, Elemental profile, Solanum nigrum, District Mianwali ABSTRACT: The survey was conducted to assess the nutritional composition and elemental profile of Solanum nigrum collected from different tehsils (Mianwali, Esakhel, Piplan) of District Mianwali. Highest moisture (28.48%), ash (21.68%) and fat contents (14.23%) were present in tehsil Mianwali. Highest carbohydrate content (25.75%), crude fiber (13.04%) and crude protein content (0.41%) was observed in tehsil Piplan. Highest concentration of Cr (0.16mg/kg), Mg (6.76mg/kg), Mn (0.12mg/kg), Fe (8.19 mg/kg) and Pb (1.85 mg/kg) was present in tehsil Piplan. Highest concentration of Zn (3.52mg/kg) was noted in tehsil Esakhel. Highest concentration of Cd (0.82mg/kg) and Cr (0.25mg/kg) was present in samples collected from tehsil Mianwali. Variation in nutritional composition and elemental profile of Solanum nigrum may be attributed to soil composition (nutrients) and difference of climatic factor prevailing in different tehsils of District Mianwali. INTRODUCTION effective efficiency of curing diseases with no side effects The main aim of the study is to explore the nutrition and the [4].