Nutritive values and some mineral elements of Amaranthus hybridus and Adansonia digitata leafy vegetables

Abstract

Amaranthus hybridus and Adansonia digitata leaves were analysed for their proximate and mineral elements (potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium) using standard methods of food analysis. Ash contents of 19.72±0.5 and 10.63±0.2% for both samples revealed that they are good mineral source. 35.30±6.3 and 45.44±8.1% of carbohydrate concentrations obtained resulted in high energy values. Potassium has the highest concentration among the mineral elements analysed with 1133±4.50 and 892±3.10mg/100g, followed by calcium with 737±2.30 and 1042±6.20mg/100g for the leaves of Amaranthus hybridus and Adansonia digitata respectively. However, the ratio of sodium to potassium values obtained from the two leafy vegetables in this study indicated that they could possibly serve to reduce high blood pressure diseases in the human body. Nutrient density (ND) greater than 100% recorded for all the elements indicated that vegetables of our study can serve as source of supplement for these mineral elements.