Vegetable possesses both nutritional and medicinal properties and are daily consumed as food in form of beverages or health supplement. This study aims at assessing the nutritional and medicinal values of the following three vegetables; Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina and Telfaria occidentalis. Fresh samples of the leaves (Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina, Telfairia occidentalis) were collected from the research farm, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. These were analyzed for the presence of phytochemical (Secondary metabolites) and fatty acids compositions. Standard methods of analysis were used The proximate analysis results revealed that moisture, ash and crude fibre contents were highest in Telfaria occidentalis (80%,13.48% and 14.77% respectively). Crude protein was the highest in Vernonia amygdalina (13.38%). Ocimum gratissimum had the highest amount of crude fat and carbohydrate contents (14.93% and 53.74% respectively).The phytochemical analysis showed that the Ociumum gratissimum (scent leaves) contained the highest amount of alkaloids and tannins (16.02% and 12.07%) respectively. Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaves ) contained the highest amount of saponins (14.69%) while Telfaria occidentalis contained the highest amount of flavonoids and total phenols (7.99% and 10.37%) Ten fatty acids were identified in the vegetable samples (five saturated and five unsaturated fatty acids). Ocimum gratissimum contained the highest amount of Oleic acid, Linoleic acid and Linolenic acid (8.96±0.01, 0.25±0.01 and 20.23±0.01) respectively. Telfaria occidentalis leaves contained the highest amount of Palmitoleic acid (3.35±0.01) while Vernonia amygdalina leaves contained the highest amount of Elaidic acid (3.62±0.01) Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponnins are known to be pharmaceutically useful. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have health benefit especially in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases This study has shown that Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina and Telfaria occidentalis vegetables could be exploited for nutritional, pharmacological and industrial purposes.

Evaluation of the phytochemical and fatty acids compositions of Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum and Telfairia occidentalis leaves

2019 Fall National Meeting

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