ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to
determine the nutrient and phytochemical composition of fresh, sun and shade
dried okra, bitter, scent, G. latifolium and roselle leaves. The
vegetables were purchased from two markets. Okra, bitter, scent and G.latifolium
leaves were purchased from Nsukka and roselle leaves were bought from Jos
market. All the vegetables were washed, weighed and divided into two equal
parts. Each part was sun, or shade dried, pulverized, packed and stored. The
fresh samples for each of the vegetables served as control. The fresh, sun and
shade dried samples of all the vegetables were separately analyzed for various
nutrient and phytochemicals on dry weight basis using standard assay
techniques. Data generated were statistically analyzed. The means were
separated and compared. All the fresh samples had high moisture values(Okra
leaf; 62.22%, bitter leaf; 62.32%, scent leaf; 62.46%, G.latifolium;
61.44% and roselle leaf; 85.53%) . The moisture content of the sun and the
shade dried samples differed (P<0.05). The exception was that of roselle
whose sun and shade dried values were comparable (6.36 and 6.38%) (P>0.05).
Fresh samples of all the vegetables had lower protein. The processed okra,
bitter, scent and roselle leaves had comparable values (P>0.05). Moisture
lost due to drying increased nutrient density of the vegetables, especially the
roselle leaves. The phytochemicals (Tannins, phytate, saponins and flavonoid)
of the fresh samples were higher than those of the sun and the shade dried
samples. This showed that fresh vegetables are better sources of phytochemicals
as against the sun and the shade dried samples. The shade dried samples had
lower tannins except for the bitter leaf and the sundried samples had lower
phytate except the G. latifolium. The sun and the shade dried samples
had comparable saponins and flavonoids content (P<0.05). As judged by the
results, domestic food processing techniques improved the nutrient content of
these vegetables and decreased some of the food toxicants and antinutrients.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Man must eat to survive for the continuity of the human race. The foods for human consumption are of both plant and animal origin. Cereals, legumes, roots, tubers, suckers, oils, nuts, fruits and vegetables are plant foods. Meat, milk, eggs and oils are animal products. Both plant and animal foods contain nutrients. Oxford Medical Dictionary (2003) defines nutrients as substances that must be consumed as part of the diet to provide energy, protein for growth or substances that regulate growth or energy production. Carbohydrate, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water are the existing six nutrients.
It is known that too much or too little of these nutrients have adverse effects on health. The source of these nutrients equally determines how healthy one is. A typical example is in the case of fats. Animal fat contains about 40-60% of fat as saturated fatty acids. Plant oils contain mostly unsaturated fatty acids ranging from 73 to 94% of total fat (Wardlaw & Kessel, 2002). Plant oil is the most beneficial to health. Current studies showed that plant nutrients are not inferior to animal nutrients as it was earlier thought. In addition, plants contain other non-nutritive dietary components that are beneficial to health. These components are called phytochemicals. “Phyto” because they are only found in plant based foods
(Pamplona-Roger, 2005). The present study concentrated on nutrient and phytochemical levels of five cultivated and wild vegetables.
Vegetables are generally herbaceous (non-woody) plants that are cultivated in farms, collected from forest trees, market and home gardens as well as kitchen gardens for home use. Usually, all the botanical parts of the plants (leaves, buds or flowers, calyxes, fruits, stalk, roots are consumed) (Pamplona-Roger, 2005). This study laid emphasis on green leafy vegetables.
History shows that vegetables were used for a number of purposes. Many in the past consumed these vegetables without knowing all they contain. Scent leaf was used and is still being used to stop diarrhoea. How and what stops diarrhoea in scent leaf is still a puzzle to many. The foods our ancestors consumed consisted of carbohydrates, starchy vegetables, leafy vegetables and little or no animal products. There were not much occurrences of various chronic diseases such as morbid obesity, cancer, heart and renal failure three to four decades ago as they are now. The juvenile and paediatric cases of these diseases are on the increase. The cause of their increase
Chemically, green leafy vegetables are composed of water; 90 to 95%, minerals e.g. phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins, fibre, proteins, chlorophyll and most recently discovered- phytochemicals (Pamplona-Roger, 2005). Indigenous traditional foods are on the verge of extinction. The younger generation is ignorant of them as such; consume less of these vegetables (Ene-Obong, 2008). As most of these traditional foods are on the verge of extinction, so are the vegetables, condiments and spices used in their preparation. Some of the wild forest vegetables might have been used by a particular community in the past. Based on these serious observations associated with less consumption of indigenous foods and increases in many chronic ailments, it is imperative to study the nutrient and phytochemical potentials of some cultivated and wild vegetables.
1.1 Statement of problem
The increase in the consumption of western diets and neglect of our traditional foods has precipitated a corresponding increase in ill-health due to diet related non-communicable diseases. These diseases are of various forms; cancer, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and many more. Prevention of these diseases based on new incidences of these diseases is imperative. This is because these diseases are of increasing public health concern. Extensive studies are ongoing to address these public health threats both for the cure of already existing cases and prevention of new cases. One hopes that the results of these studies will provide baseline information as to their causes and treatment.
However, some of the information based on the results of recent studies point to the type of foods consumed by people. Currently, nutrients from plant based foods have promising solution (Ene-Obong, 2008). Vegetable based foods are advocated because of their high content of non-nutritive dietary components that are safer and more beneficial to man. Some of these vegetables contain antioxidants and phytochemicals. Sadly, in Nigeria, little attention is paid to fruits and vegetables. Statistics from World Bank (1991) showed that at the National level, an average household expenditure on household staples was highest on fish (N140.84) followed.....
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