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Minerals, Vitamins and Phytochemical Profile of Gongronema latifolium: Indices for Assessement of its Free Radical Scavenging, Nutritional, and Antinutritional Qualities

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA
  • 2 Department of Human Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, NIGERIA

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 3, Issue (1), Pages 17-21, January,10 (2014)

Abstract

Gongronema latifolium (Utazi) leaf, widely used (especially in the South-East of Nigeria) as spice and vegetable, was analysed to ascertain its potentials for free radical scavenging and nutritional relevance. Various parameters analysed include secondary metabolites (phytochemicals), vitamins and minerals. Appropriate phytochemical methods were used to determine the different phytochemical compounds. Vitamin analyses were carried out by colorimetric and titration methods as appropriate while minerals were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and saponins were substantially present while tannins, phytic acid, and oxalate were of insignificant concentrations. Among the vitamins, ascorbic acid was of the highest concentration (15.84 ± 0.12 mg/100g) followed by vitamin A (2.81 ± 0.01 mg/100g). The concentrations of other vitamins were rather insignificant. Heavy metasl were virtually absent from the sample while other essential minerals assayed were reasonably present with magnesium having the highest value of 14.00 ± 0.01ppm followed by manganese, calcium, iron, sodium and potassium with 10.10 ± 0.23ppm, 9.34 ± 0.00ppm, 5.90 ± 0.05ppm, 3.89 ± 0.00ppm, and 2.13 ± 0.01ppm, respectively. The concentrations of the rest were insignificant. Gongronema latifolium thus possess sufficient active principles that confirm it as an important medicinal vegetable with rich free radical scavenging properties. It is also rich in vitamins and nutritionally essential minerals.

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