Abstract

Colocasia esculenta, Ipomoea aquatica and Pennisetum purpurem collected from Afikpo, Abakaliki and Ohaozara areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, were analysed for proximate and antinutritional composition using standard procedures. Carbohydrate content of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 41.71±2.43 % to 55.28±1.03 % while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 42.88±2.71 % to 59.60±2.51 %. For Pennisetum purpureum, the carbohydrate content ranged from 38.74±3.61 % to 51.13±2.04 %. Protein content of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 9.20±2.71 % to 20.11±3.00 %, while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 17.40±0.46 % to 23 26±0.01 %, and that of Pennisetum purpureum ranged from 13.40±2.24 % to 22.08±1.75%. Crude fiber content of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 11.99±2.69 % to 18.75±4.24 % while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 7.865±2.50 % to 16.18±2.39 %, and that of Pennisetum purpureum ranged fom 12.62±3.09 % to 22.67±2.52 %. Oxalate content (mg/100g) of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 14.44±6.34 to 16.67±2.22 while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 16.58±0.47 to 20.78±0.29, and that of Pennisetum purpureum ranged from 16.94±1.29 to 23.92±3.00. The tannin content (mg/100g) of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 19.05±3.40 to 20.90±0.76 while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 16.50±0.25 to 22.30±2.05 and that of Pennisetum purpureum ranged from 20.41±1.72 to 24.77±4.96. For Cyanide content (mg/100mg), that of Colocasia esculenta ranged from 2.44±0.01 to 4.23±2.93 while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 2.03±0.10 to 3.43±0.52 and that of Pennisetum purpureum cyanide content ranged from 3.99±1.39 to 5.24±3.50. Phytate content (mg/100g) for Colocasia esculenta ranged from 19.21±6.65 to 22.88±2.26 while that of Ipomoea aquatica ranged from 19.26±0.41 to 21.68±1.26 and that of Pennisetum purpureum ranged from 22.01±0.73 to 30.31±9.40. In general, the vegetables were exceptionally rich in carbohydrate, protein and fiber. This shows that these vegetables could contribute greatly towards meeting human nutritional requirement for normal body growth and adequate protection against diseases which could result from nutrient deficiency.

Keywords

proximate, anti-nutritional, vegetables, afikpo, abakaliki and ohaozara