Revista Brasileira de Gestão Ambiental e Sustentabilidade (2016): 3(6): 327-336. ISSN 2359-1412 http://dx.doi.org/10.21438/rbgas.030607 Proximate, vitamin and mineral assays of an underutilised indigenous vegetable in West Africa Salvia elegans Vahl (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) in enhancing diet diversification Oluwole Oladeji*, Tomilayo Amusan Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. P. M. B. 4000. Ogbomoso. Nigeria. *Email: [email protected]. Abstract. The main objective of this research is to explore the proximate, minerals and vitamin assays of Salvia elegans Vahl Recebido: (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) with the aim of promoting their consumption. 25/10/2016 Proximate analysis was carried out following the method described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC). Minerals Aceito: was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and vitamins 19/12/2016 are analysed using high performance liquid chromatography. The proximate analysis moisture content of (2.565 ± 0.14), crude protein Publicado: (24.24 ± 0.13), crude fibre (6.67 ± 0.03), ash (16.95 ± 0.19), CHO (48.08 ± 0.6 cru g/100 gDM, calcium (265.25 mg/kg), iron 31/12/2016 (245.4 mg/g), sodium (374.45± 0.10 mg/100 g), magnesium (76.53 mg/100 g), copper (1.20 mg/100 g), potassium (199.53 Acesso Aberto mg/100 g), Zn (102.90 mg/100 g), manganese (4.95 mg/100 g). Also Artigo completo contain 7.98 mg of B1 (thiamine), 3.33 mg of riboflavin, 48.93 mg of niacin, ascorbic acid (252.02 mg/100 g), retinol (98.06 mg), cholecalciferol (8.64 mg) and tocopherols (10.97 mg). The consumption of S. elegans could complement other food sources in effecting positive impact of vitamins, fibres and minerals in supplementation on the growth of stunted children, building of bones, tissue formation and on the prevalence of disease such as typhoid, scurvy, and rickets. Therefore, the cultivation and consumption of the plant should be encouraged. ORCID Keywords: Proximate analysis; Vitamins; Minerals; Human diet; 0000-0003-3355-2488 Food security. Oluwole Oladeji 0000-0002-8973-3758 Resumo. Composição centesimal e análises vitamínicas e minerais Tomilayo Amusan de um vegetal nativo subutilizado na África Ocidental Salvia elegans Vahl (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) para a melhoria da diversificação da dieta. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é analisar a composição centesimal e conteúdo de minerais e de vitaminas de Salvia elegans Vahl (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) com o intuito de promover seu consumo. A composição centesimal foi realizada seguindo o método descrito pela Associação de Químicos Analíticos Oficiais (AOAC). Os minerais foram analisados por espectrofotômetro de absorção atômica e as vitaminas foram analisadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. O teor de umidade (2,565 ± 0,14), proteína bruta (24,24 ± 0,13), fibra bruta (6,67 ± 0,03), cinzas (16,95 ± 0,19), carboidratos (48,08 ± 0,6 cru g/100 gDM), cálcio (265,25 mg/kg), ferro (245,4 mg/g), sódio ISSN 2359-1412/RBGAS-2016-0048/3/6/7/327 Rev. Bras. Gest. Amb. Sustent. http://revista.ecogestaobrasil.net 328 Oluwole and Amusan (374,45 ± 0,10 mg/100 g), magnésio (76,53 mg/100 g), cobre (1,20 mg/100 g), Zn (102,90 mg/100 g), manganês (4,95 mg/100 g). Contém também 7,98 mg de B1 (tiamina), 3,33 mg de riboflavina, 48,93 mg de niacina, ácido ascórbico (252,02 mg/100 g), retinol (98,06 mg), colecalciferol (8,64 mg) e tocoferóis (10,97 mg). O consumo de S. elegans pode complementar outras fontes de alimento ao efetuar impacto positivo de vitaminas, fibras e minerais em suplementação ao crescimento de crianças atrofiadas, construção de ossos, formação de tecidos e na prevalência de doenças como febre tifoide, escorbuto e raquitismo. Portanto, o cultivo e o consumo dessa planta devem ser encorajados. Palavras-chave: Composição centesimal; Vitaminas; Minerais; Dieta humana; Segurança alimentar. Introduction activities such as antidepressant and anxiolytic effects (Mora et al., 2006), Salvia belongs to the Lamiaceae activity on brain functioning, dietary, Family with a large genus containing about antibacterial (Selvakumar et al., 2012); anti 500 species of sage plants throughout the histaminic (Maxia et al., 2010); world. Salvia elegans Vahl is commonly anthelmintic (Zachariah et al., 2012) and called pineapple sage or tangerine sage anti-inflammatory (Maxia et al., 2010), (Lara, 2006). It is a perennial shrub native medicinal and miscellaneous uses (Hanson, to Mexico use in traditional medicine to 2004). Research studies have revealed that alleviate central nervous system ailments wild or semi-wild plants are nutritionally (Aguilar et al., 1994). It is locally called important because of high vitamins, Ewe-ribena (because of reddish-blood minerals, essential fatty acids and fibre colour of the plant infusion). contents. The plant is extensively used in Vegetables are an important Mexican traditional medicine, especially for component of the human diet, providing the treatment of anxiety, and also for fibre, minerals, proteins and vitamins lowering of blood pressure. (Gupta et al., 2012) and are low in calories. Scientists suggested the need to They are also a very good source of consume high vegetable meals to prevent antioxidants (Acikgoz, 2011). When the colon and stomach cancers. Others (Ball, consumption of African leafy vegetables 2006) reported on high vitamin, dietary (ALVs) is increased, it will have a positive fibre and mineral contents of vegetables effect on nutrition, health and economic and the role they play in maintaining wellbeing of both rural and urban alkalinity in the body. The high dietary populations. Apart from promoting good fibre in green leafy vegetables helps health, it also helps to enhance crop regulate the digestive system aiding bowel diversity, alleviate poverty and promote health and for weight management. Several food security. Green leafy vegetables are studies have shown that high folate intake known to be low in calorie, contain low from green leafy vegetables may lower the carbohydrate contents. These risk of colon polyps by 30 to 40 percent characteristics make them ideal for compared to low intake of this vitamin promoting and maintaining healthy body suggesting that diets low in folate may weight and coupled with the high fibre increase the risk of colon cancer (Panda, content, these vegetables particularly help 2010). Low folate intake has also been with reducing type II diabetes. associated with cancers of the breast, This plant have been extensively cervix and lung. studied for a variety of bioactive principles Despite the great value of these and screened for different pharmacological traditional leafy vegetables, not much research has been carried out on them Rev. Bras. Gest. Amb. Sustent., 2016, v. 3, n. 6, p. 327-336. Proximate, vitamin and mineral assays of Salvia elegans 329 especially in the area of nutritional and Ash content medicinal benefit of many indigenous About 2.0 g of the sample was green leafy vegetables which are under weighed (W1) into pre-weighed empty exploited or underutilized, this study is crucibles (W0) and placed into a Lenton designed to analyse some of these furnace at 550 oC for 3 h. The ash was vegetables which are regarded as weed by cooled in desiccators and weighed (W2). many in the Savannah Zone of Nigeria. The The weight of the ash was determined by main objective of this research is to explore the difference between the powdered leaf the proximate, minerals and vitamin assays samples, pre-weighed crucible and the ash of S. elegans with the aim of promoting in the crucible. their consumption and thus enhance diet diversification. Crude lipids About 2.0 g was accurately Materials and methods weighed (W0) into a porous thimble and covered with a clean white cotton wool. Collection and identification of Petroleum ether (200 mL) was poured into sample a 250 mL extraction flask, which was S. elegans was obtained from a previously dried in the oven at 105 °C and farm located in Oshogbo, Osun State weighed (W2). The porous thimble was South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. placed into the Soxhlet and the rest of the The plant was identified and authenticated apparatus was assembled. Extraction was at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria done for 5 h. The thimble was removed (FRIN), Ibadan, with Voucher no FHI carefully and the extraction flask placed in 11207 (S. elegans). a water bath so as to evaporate the petroleum ether and then dried in the oven Sample treatment and at a temperature of 105 °C to completely preparation free the solvent and moisture. It was then The leaves were separated from the cooled in desiccators and reweighed (W1). stalks, washed and air-dried for 25 days, The percentage crude lipid was calculated pulverized into fine powder, sieved with a using the equation below: sieve of mesh size of 20 mm and stored in a clean, dry air-tight sampling bottle and kept − at 4 °C until required for analysis. All %Crude Lipid= W 1 W 2 ×100 reagents were of analytical grade and of W 0 sigma unless otherwise stated. Where: W0= Weight of sample (g); Proximate analysis W1 = Weight of Flask+ oil (g); W2= Weight Proximate analysis was carried out of flask (g). following the method described by the Association of Analytical Chemists, Crude fibre content About 2.0 g of the sample was (AOAC, 1990): 3 accurately weighed (W0) into a 1 dm Moisture content conical flask. About 100 mL of distilled About 2.0 g of the sample was water and 20 mL of 20% sulphuric acid were added and boiled gently for 30 min. weighed (W1) into pre-weighed crucible The content was filtered through Whatman (W0) and placed into a hot drying oven at 105 oC for 24 h.