Phytochemical profile of some green leafy vegetables in South East, Nigeria

Abstract

The potential of eight common green leafy vegetables (GLV) in the raw and cooked forms as natural source of phytochemicals was assessed. The vegetables studied were the common ones found in southeast Nigeria and they included Ugu, Nchanwu, Okazi, Utazi, Oha, Nturukpa, Ahihara, and Onugbo. The vegetables were assessed for the following phytochemicals: alkaloid, steroid, tannin, anthocyanin, carotenoids and flavonoid. The phytochemical content of the vegetables varied significantly (p=0.05) among the GLV. Onugbo had the highest steroid content of 0.27g/100g while nchanwu had the lowest (0.07g/100g). Oha followed by ahihara was the most enriched with respect to the tested phytochemicals. Differences in phytochemical content between raw and cooked GLV were not significant (p=0.05), with the exception of flavonoid and alkaloids. Generally the GLV showed a low content of anthocyanin and carotenoids while alkaloid was most abundant in them. Alkaloid content of the GLV in raw and cooked forms were 1.28 -2.96g/100g and 0.30 -0.84g/100g respectively. The assessed GLV offer a cheap but rich source of a number of phytochemicals having health protective properties. The production and consumption of a mixture of GLV is recommended.

Phytochemical, Proximate Analysis, Vitamin and Mineral Composition of Aqueous Extract of Ficus capensis leaves in South Eastern Nigeria

“…They have the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, super oxide anions and lipid peroxy radicals (Okwu, 2004;Okwu and Josiah, 2006), therefore supports its antioxidant activity. The flavonoid content of the leaves of Ficus capensis therefore supports its use for protection against diseases such as cancer, inflammation and atherosclerosis (Onyeka and Nwambekwe, 2007). The presence of alkaloids (422.12mg/100g) in the leaves of Ficus capensis supports the findings by Oyeleke et al, (2008), that the antibacterial activity of this plant may be attributed to the presence of alkaloids.…”

Comparative Analysis of the Different Brassica OleraceaVarieties Grown on Jos, Plateau Using Albino Rats.

“…However, red cabbage contains high amount of phytic acid (30.36 ± 0.90) than Green and Chinese varieties. Table 3 shows that rats fed with Chinese, green and red cabbage extracts (Groups A,B, and C) have reduced PCV and haemoglobin levels at the end of the 14days of experimental period compared to the normal/control group D, results from the table 4 showed that there were significant increase in the serum levels of the plasma enzymes activities and other biochemical indices for the case samples when compared to the control group, revealing health problems of various degree which may be occasioned by liver and pancreatic damage [8]. The disease conditions associated with the elevated determined biochemical parameters are as follows; increased levels of alkaline phosphatase may indicate cholestasis, liver tumors and obstructive biliary disease.…”

Phytochemical Profile of Telfairia occidentalis Leaf Grown in Soilless and Soil Media using HPLC

“…All the alkaloids in T. occidentalis varied in the different growth medium. The total alkaloids (11.614 g/100g NM, 9.082 g/100g HS) obtained in T. occidentalis using HPLC was higher compared to other works (Onyeka and Nwambekwe, 2007;Otitoju et al, 2014;Odufuwa et al, 2013), which reported 0.81 g/100g, 0.04 g/100g and 0.039 g/100g, respectively for total alkaloids in T. occidentalis. Also, Oduse et al (2012) reported 13.83 mg/kg for Cnidoscolus aconitifloina and 10.13 mg/kg for Vernonia amygdalina.…”