Nutritional Potential of the Leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Godseffiana’ Muell Arg

The proximate and phytochemical composition of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana Muell Arg was investigated. The proximate composition includes moisture (57.60%), crude fibre (21.66% wet weight and 51.08% dry weight), total carbohydrate (12.50% wet weight and 29.48% dry weight), crude protein (3.94% wet weight and 9.29% dry weight), total ash (3.90% wet weight and 9.20% dry weight), crude fat (0.40% wet weight and 0.94% dry weight) and caloric value of (69.36% wet weight and 163.58% dry weight). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids (catechins and flavones), saponins and tannins; with 19.05mg/100g wet weight and 44.93mg/100g wry weight carotenoids, 7.15mg/100g wet weight and 16.86mg/100g dry weight saponins, and 1.82mg/100g wet weight and 4.29mg/100g dry weight tannins. This result support the medicinal use of the plant, and in addition, unveils the possibility of its acting as a potential source of food nutrients and nutraceuticals. @ JASEM Acalypha wilkesiana Muell Arg belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family). Its other names include A. amentaceae and A. tricolor, while its common names are copperleaf, Joseph’s coat, fire dragon, beef steak plant and match-me-if-you-can (Christman, 2004). The Hausas of Northern Nigeria call it “Jiwene” and “Jinwinini”, while the Yoruba of Southern Nigeria call it “aworoso”. It is native to Fiji and nearby islands in the South Pacific, and is a popular outdoor plant that provides color throughout the year, although it is also grown indoors as a container plant. It is propagated by stem cuttings at any time of the year. Under ideal conditions, it grows as a spreading evergreen shrub with upright branches that tend to originate near the base and can get up to 3.1m tall with a similar spread. It has leaves (12.720.3cm long) that are alternate, elliptic to oval, serrate and multi-colored, and small inconspicuous flowers (10.2-20.3cm) that hangs in catkin-like racemes beneath the foliage. Many cultivars are available with different leaf forms and colors: A. wilkesiana ‘Godseffiana’ has narrow, drooping, green leaves with creamy-white margins, 'Marginata' has coppery-green leaves with pink or crimson margins, 'Macrophylla' has larger leaves, variegated with bronze, cream, yellow and red, while 'Musaica' has green leaves that are mottled with orange and red (Gilman, 1999; Christman, 2004). A. wilkesiana has antimicrobial properties (Ogundaini, 2005). According to Ogundaini (2005), the expressed juice or boiled decoction is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and fungal skin infections such as Pityriasis versicolar, Impetigo contagiosa, Candida intetrigo, Tinea versicolor, Tinea corporis and Tinea pedis. In Southern Nigeria, the leaves of this plant are eaten as vegetables in the management of hypertension, consequent upon which we had earlier monitored the effect of the plants’ leaves on plasma sodium and potassium levels of normal rabbits (Ikewuchi et al., 2008); as well as its effect on the plasma and urine chemistry of saltloaded rats (Ikewuchi et al., 2009a). In the present study, we investigated the proximate and phytochemical composition of A. wilkesiana ‘Godseffiana’ with a view to unveiling its nutritional potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of Plant Samples: Samples of fresh leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana were collected from within the Choba Campus of University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. After due identification at the University of Port Harcourt Herbarium, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, they were rid of dirt and stored for subsequent use. Determination of the proximate composition: A part was immediately used for determining the proximate composition of the plant. The moisture, crude protein, fat, ash, fiber and total carbohydrate contents of the samples were determined in triplicates according to standard methods (AOAC, 2006). The energy value was calculated using the Atwater factors of 4, 9 and 4 for protein, fat and carbohydrate respectively (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1991). Preliminary screening of the phytochemical profile: The phytochemical screening of the sample was carried out as described by Harbone (1973), and Sofowora (1980). It was screened for alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids (catechins and flavones), saponins and tannins. Quantitative determination of carotenoids, saponins and tannins were carried out in triplicates, using the method of AOAC (2006). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Acalypha wilkesiana Muell Arg belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family).Its other names include A. amentaceae and A. tricolor, while its common names are copperleaf, Joseph's coat, fire dragon, beef steak plant and match-me-if-you-can (Christman, 2004).The Hausas of Northern Nigeria call it "Jiwene" and "Jinwinini", while the Yoruba of Southern Nigeria call it "aworoso".It is native to Fiji and nearby islands in the South Pacific, and is a popular outdoor plant that provides color throughout the year, although it is also grown indoors as a container plant.It is propagated by stem cuttings at any time of the year.Under ideal conditions, it grows as a spreading evergreen shrub with upright branches that tend to originate near the base and can get up to 3.1m tall with a similar spread.It has leaves (12.7-20.3cmlong) that are alternate, elliptic to oval, serrate and multi-colored, and small inconspicuous flowers (10.2-20.3cm)that hangs in catkin-like racemes beneath the foliage.Many cultivars are available with different leaf forms and colors: A. wilkesiana 'Godseffiana' has narrow, drooping, green leaves with creamy-white margins, 'Marginata' has coppery-green leaves with pink or crimson margins, 'Macrophylla' has larger leaves, variegated with bronze, cream, yellow and red, while 'Musaica' has green leaves that are mottled with orange and red (Gilman, 1999;Christman, 2004).
A. wilkesiana has antimicrobial properties (Ogundaini, 2005).According to Ogundaini (2005), the expressed juice or boiled decoction is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and fungal skin infections such as Pityriasis versicolar, Impetigo contagiosa, Candida intetrigo, Tinea versicolor, Tinea corporis and Tinea pedis.In Southern Nigeria, the leaves of this plant are eaten as vegetables in the management of hypertension, consequent upon which we had earlier monitored the effect of the plants' leaves on plasma sodium and potassium levels of normal rabbits (Ikewuchi et al., 2008); as well as its effect on the plasma and urine chemistry of saltloaded rats (Ikewuchi et al., 2009a).In the present study, we investigated the proximate and phytochemical composition of A. wilkesiana 'Godseffiana' with a view to unveiling its nutritional potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection of Plant Samples: Samples of fresh leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana were collected from within the Choba Campus of University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.After due identification at the University of Port Harcourt Herbarium, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, they were rid of dirt and stored for subsequent use.

Determination of the proximate composition:
A part was immediately used for determining the proximate composition of the plant.The moisture, crude protein, fat, ash, fiber and total carbohydrate contents of the samples were determined in triplicates according to standard methods (AOAC, 2006).The energy value was calculated using the Atwater factors of 4, 9 and 4 for protein, fat and carbohydrate respectively (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1991).

Preliminary screening of the phytochemical profile:
The phytochemical screening of the sample was carried out as described by Harbone (1973), andSofowora (1980).It was screened for alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids (catechins and flavones), saponins and tannins.Quantitative determination of carotenoids, saponins and tannins were carried out in triplicates, using the method of AOAC (2006).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Nutritional Potential of the Leaves of…..

IKEWUCHI, C J; IKEWUCHI, C C; ONYEIKE, E N; UWAKWE, A A
The proximate composition of A. wilkesiana is given in Table 1.Its moisture content is less than those of Amarantus hybridus, Talinum triangulare, Telferia occidentalis (Oguntona, 1998), Pennisetum purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009) and Tridax procumbens (Ikewuchi et al., 2009b).The moisture content of any food is an index of its water activity (Olutiola et al., 1991), and is used as a measure of stability and the susceptibility to microbial contamination (Uraih and Izuagbe, 1990).This implies that: • A. wilkesiana may have a relatively longer shelflife than these other plants.• Dehydration would increase the relative concentrations of the other food nutrients (Table 1) and improve the shelf-life/durability of harvested A. wilkesiana.The crude protein content of A. wilkesiana is greater than those of A. hybridus, T. triangulare, T. occidentalis (Oguntona, 1998) and P. purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009).A 100g serving of A. wilkesiana can provide about 7-19`% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) (Table 1).It has lower total fat content than A. hybridus, T. triangulare, T. occidentalis (Oguntona, 1998), P. purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009) and T. procumbens (Ikewuchi et al., 2009b).We found a higher total carbohydrate content in A. wilkesiana than was reported for A. hybridus, T. triangulare (Oguntona, 1998), P. purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009) and T. procumbens (Ikewuchi et al., 2009b).A 100g serving of A. wilkesiana can provide about 5-10% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) (Table 1).It has very high crude fibre content, which is higher than those of A. hybridus, T. triangulare, T. occidentalis (Oguntona, 1998), P. purpureum (Okaraonye andIkewuchi, 2009) and T. procumbens (Ikewuchi et al., 2009b).A 100g serving of A. wilkesiana can provide about 85-201% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) (Table 1).Epidemiological evidences suggest that increased fibre consumption may contribute to a reduction in the incidence of certain diseases including colon cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and various digestive disorders (SACN, 2008).Dietary fiber has been associated with alterations of the colonic environment that protect against colorectal diseases.Among the theories on colonic carcinogenesis are those that involve increased concentrations of bile acids and their metabolites, alterations in colonic pH, low Ca 2+ , elevated NH 3 and long-chain fatty acid concentrations, and alterations in bacterial profiles.Fiber may also provide protection by increasing fecal bulk, which dilutes the increased colonic bile acid concentrations that occur with a high-fat diet (Dillard and German, 2000).So, herein lays a likely benefit derivable from the consumption of this plant.The ash content of A. wilkesiana is less than those of A. hybridus and T. occidentalis, but greater than those of T. triangulare (Oguntona, 1998), P. purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009) and T. procumbens (Ikewuchi et al., 2009b).It has higher caloric value than A. hybridus, T. triangulare (Oguntona, 1998) and P. purpureum (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009).(NutritionData, 2008).

Table 1 :
Proximate compositions of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana Values are means of triplicate determinations.Percent daily values (%DV) are for adults or children aged 4 or older, and are based on a 2,000 calorie reference diet.The daily values may be higher or lower based on individual needs

Table 2 :
Result of the Preliminary Qualitative Phytochemical Screening of Acalypha wilkesiana

Table 3 :
Result of the Preliminary Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Acalypha wilkesiana