Nutritional composition of Phragmanthera incana (Schum) leaves selected from four host trees

Abstract

Phragmanthera incana (Schum) belonging to the family Loranthaceae, is a specie of mistletoe commonly found on trees in South-western part of Nigeria. They are hemi-parasitic plants that grow on trees which have been employed ethno-medicinally to treat several disease conditions. This study therefore evaluate the dietary and nutritional composition of the plant. Fresh leaves of P. incana from four host trees; Psidium guajava (guava), Cola acuminata (kolanut), Anacardium occidentale (cashew), and Mangifera indica (mango) trees were collected from its natural habitat. Proximate and mineral analysis were carried out according to recommended methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Triplicate readings of data obtained were presented as mean and standard deviation. The proximate analysis of the powdered samples of P. incana leaves showed that the samples contain varying amounts of moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate and minerals The carbohydrates and protein contents obtained in the leaves falls within the recommendation values of Food and Nutrition Board of Institute of Medicines (IOM) at 45% to 65% of energy and 10% to 35% of energy respectively. Comparing the results obtained with permissible limits set by WHO for consumed medicinal herbs, it can be concluded that the essential metals and heavy metals present in P. incana from the four host trees were below permissible limits. P. incana leaves are rich sources of dietary elements essential for biochemical processes and body metabolism.

Physico-Chemical and Metal Composition of Some Sachet and Borehole Water in Imota Community Area of Lagos State, Nigeria

“…The presence of heavy metals in some of the samples may be due to the poor disposal of solid waste, which contributes greatly to the degree of pollution in developing countries. The concentrations of metals in the selected water samples are within the permissible limit of USEPA (2022) and WHO (2017) ceruloplasmin (Adeyemi & Osilesi, 2022). All the values of heavy metals in this study are lower than those reported by Ogundele and Mekuleyi (2018), Kamaruzzaman et al (2011) andMortuza andAl-Misned (2017).…”

Comparative in Vitro Antioxidant Activities of Methanol Extracts OF Phragmanthera incana Leaves from Guava, Cashew, Mango and Kolanut Trees

“…The leaves have been used ethno-medicinally in the management of various diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, insomnia, among others Ogunmefun et al, 2013). The leaves contain different bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and are rich sources of dietary elements essential for biochemical processes and body metabolism (Adeyemi & Osilesi, 2022). They represent a family of plant species with an untapped reservoir of novel compounds for drug discoveries (Adeyemi & Osilesi 2022).…”

“…The leaves contain different bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and are rich sources of dietary elements essential for biochemical processes and body metabolism (Adeyemi & Osilesi, 2022). They represent a family of plant species with an untapped reservoir of novel compounds for drug discoveries (Adeyemi & Osilesi 2022). The inhibitory effect of methanol extract of P. incana leaves harvested from Kolanut and Cocoa on Fe 2+ induced lipid peroxidation and a higher radical scavenging abilities (Ogunmefun et al, 2015).…”