The poor quality of habitual diet and lack of dietary diversity in Sub-Sahara Africa are grossly contributing to deficiencies of micronutrients in the menu of poor rural and semi urban communities particularly in Nigeria, leading to the high incidence of hidden hunger. This has manifested in the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as stunted growth, goiter, blindness, kwashiorkor and marasmus. Five underutilized traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) of southeast Nigeria were assessed by standard methods to determine their physiochemical and antioxidant values. These TLVs were Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Monench (Okra), Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Goat weed), Acanthus montanus (Ness) T. Anders. (Leopard’s tongue), Bombax buonopozense P. Beauv. (Kapok Tree) and Mucuna flagellipes (Devil bean). Results showed that the leaves of Bombax buonopozense and Abelmoschus esculentus contained appreciable amounts of protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and mineral elements, and generally low level of toxicants. Furthermore, the anti-oxidant contents of the five TLVs highlighted their biological values as medicinal plants with the high potency in fighting diseases. The above results showed that these vegetables could be valuable and important contributors to the diets of the rural poor and semi-urban people of southeast Nigeria for improved human nutrition, reduction of hidden hunger and food security.
Nigeria is a country that is richly blessed with abundant natural and human resources. However, the country experiences persistent food crisis both in terms of quantity and quality. Cases of malnutrition and under nutrition have been recorded and the food intake requirements for most Nigerians are below the international standard [
Globally, food security is dependent on a handful of crops. It was reported [
The chronic yoke of malnutrition in Nigeria cannot be solved by food aid or food trade from developed countries, but rather by the adequate and sustainable utilisation of the rich biodiversity in the country [
Diversification of crops and consumption habits to include underutilized traditional leafy vegetables is the most sustainable way of reducing and controlling the hydra headed effects of micronutrient deficiencies in resource-poor communities of southeast Nigeria. This is because, underutilized plant genetic resources can make substantial contribution in meeting the nutritional needs of the population, especially the low income group, during times of food seasonal scarcity [
These crops are cheap, resilience to climate change and readily affordable to many. Being accessible to low- income communities, they play a crucial role in improving their food security, nutritional status and livelihood options [
Freshly harvested leaves of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra/okro), Agaratum conyzoides (Goat weed) Acanthus montanus (Leopard’s tongue), Bombax buonopozense (Kapok) and Mucuna flagellipes (Devils bean) were collected from some local communities in southeast Nigeria. The leafy parts of these vegetables were washed, cut and oven dried at 90˚C for 6 hours. The dried leaves were pulverized, packaged in airtight sterile bottles, labelled and stored in a refrigerator ready for use.
The chemical analysis of percentage moisture, crude fibre, protein, ash, fat and carbohydrate were determined using methods described by Pearson [
The mineral contents were determined using dry ashing procedure as described by Association of Agricultural Chemists [
Data were analysed using a number of statistical techniques, specifically percentages, charts, means and standard deviations.
The results of the physiochemical analysis of the five TLVs of southeast Nigeria is presented in
The protein value was highest in Mucuna flagellipes (2.59 ± 0.02) and least in Acanthus mantanus (0.99 ± 0.02). These amount of protein (when converted) of the total nitrogen in a leafy vegetable were variable for these leafy vegetables analysed in the present study. They may not compare favourably with the dry milled percentage values reported for leafy vegetables like Brachystegia eurycoma and Tamaradus indica which was 5.78% [
The ash content, which is a measure of the mineral content of food, had values ranging from 1.75 ± 0.02 - 3.50 ± 0.20 (
Furthermore, the low content of fat in all the TLVs is an indication that they are good dietary menu for persons in search of weight reducing meals and diabetic patients. The fiber content of the vegetables analysed was low. However, these components have little food value, although it provides the bulk necessary for proper peristaltic action in the intestinal tract [
Species | Moisture | Protein | Ash | Fiber | Fat | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abelmoschus esculentus | 80.85 ± 0.2 | 1.60 ± 0.20 | 2.45 ± 0.02 | 1.44 ± 0.02 | 0.40 ± 0.20 | 13.26 ± 0.02 |
Ageratum conyzoides | 83.20 ± 0.02 | 1.02 ± 0.2 | 2.90 ± 0.02 | 2.30 ± 0.20 | 0.80 ± 0.20 | 12.15 ± 0.0.61 |
Acanthus montanus | 82.80 ± 0.02 | 0.99 ± 0.02 | 2.70 ± 0.20 | 1.89 ± 0.02 | 0.50 ± 0.20 | 11.12 ± 0.02 |
Bombax buonopozense | 70.85 ± 0.02 | 2.30 ± 0.02 | 3.50 ± 0.20 | 2.90 ± 0.20 | 0.70 ± 0.20 | 19.75 ± 0.02 |
Mucuna flagellipes | 69.35 ± 0.02 | 2.59 ± 0.02 | 1.75 ± 0.02 | 2.00 ± 0.20 | 0.30 ± 0.20 | 24.01 ± 0.02 |
Furthermore, the antioxidant contents of the five TLVs lend credence to the biological values of the vegetables as medicinal plants with high potency in fighting diseases. This is in line with previous results [
Vitamin A (
that these plants nourishes the skin and promote healthy skin. These TLVs are important contributors to the diets of the rural populace in southeast Nigeria for improved nutrition, combating hidden hunger and food security.
The zinc content of the TVLs ranges from 144.19 ± 0.02 to 223.26 ± 0.02 ppm in the studied species, which is appreciably high when compared with the daily recommended quantity of 7 milligrams average for adult woman and an average of 9.5 milligrams daily for male. The risk for women to have a zinc deficiency is much greater than a man, especially if they are malnourished because of an eating disorder or when they are breastfeeding.
Lead was absent in all the TLVs studied. The complete absence of Lead in these plant genetic resources makes them fit for human consumption. This is in line with another result [
The projection of Sub Saharan Africa for the next two decades, particularly as regards life expectancy and food security is bleak and challenging. Practical intervention in nutrition and consumption habit through diversifications to include underutilized crops is highly critical and needed. Nutritional characterization of these underutilized traditional leafy vegetables is an innovative stride and their inculcation in the diet habits of these resource poor communities could potentially address some of those indicators of malnutrition prevalent in these areas. At the same time, the income generating potentials of the identified traditional vegetables is essential in alleviating the poverty level of these rural farm families especially women on whose shoulders the responsibilities of caring for the family rests upon.
Conclusively, the results of this study showed that the leaves of Bombax buonopozense and Abelmoschusesculentus contained appreciable amount of proteins, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and mineral elements, and generally low level of toxicants. Thus, it can be concluded that leaves of these species can contribute significantly to the nutrient requirements of man and should be used as a source of nutrients to supplement other major sources.