PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, MINERAL ELEMENT AND ANTINUTRIENT COMPONENTS OF ACALYPHA FIMBRIATA LEAVES

Morufu Adisa Ademoye*, Labunmi Lajide and Bodunde Joseph Owolabi

ABSTRACT

The proximate composition of A.fimbriata was determined using standard methods. The mineral elements were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer equipped with flame and graphite furnace. The antinutrient content were evaluated using standard methods. The proximate composition result showed carbohydrate (36.28%), lipid (3.32%0, ash 5.93%), moisture 10.70%) and crude fibre (38.44%). The mineral elements analysis revealed (in mg/kg) Na (2.89), K (4.33), Ca (19.59), Mg (9.84), Ni (0.02), Fe (6.89), Zn (10.42), Cu ((2.42), Pb (0.01) and Mn (0.42). The anti-nutritional content (in mg/100 g) were phytate (12.37± 0.44), tannin (40.08 ± 0.26), oxalate (18.92 ± 1.32) and alkaloids (107.52 ± 0.44). The research effort showed that A. fimbriata leaf is suitable for consumption as a medicinal plant as it contained some food components that could be of health benefits and the anti-nutrient components are within permissible level.

Keywords: Acalypha fimbriata, Proximate composition, Mineral element, Anti-nutrient.