Assessment of nutritional values of three underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The nutritional values of three underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of Izzi land in Ebonyi State of Nigeria; Zanthoxylum zanthoyloides Herms, Vitex doniana Sweet and Adenia cissamploides Zepernick, were investigated. Their proximate and mineral values (Ca, P, Na, Mg, Zn, K, Fe, Cu, Pb) were determined. Results of the proximate analysis showed their moisture contents to be 10.8, 10.2 and 9.6% for V. doniana, A. cissamploides and Z. zanthoxyloides, respectively. Their protein contents were 8.74, 8.5 and 6.12%, respectively, while their carbohydrate values were 58.94, 59.5, and 66.2% respectively. Fat and ash contents were highest in Z. zanthoxyloides (8.1 and 3.5%, respectively), while crude fiber content was highest in A. cissampeloides (14.6%). Macro and micro nutrients of these vegetables showed high levels of Ca 90.1 > 72.08 > 54.06 mg/100 g for Z. zanthoyloide, V. doniana and A. cissamploides, respectively. High values of Cu and Mg were recorded for Z. zanthoxyloides and V. doniana. The result also indicated the values for Na and K, while the complete absence of Zn and Pd in the three vegetables was of significant interest. The mineral values of the three vegetables exceeded 1% of their dry weights. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between their nutritional values and those of the conventional leafy vegetables.