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Nutrients and Anti Nutrients Composition of Two Varieties of Sorrel (<i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i>) Leaves and their Seeds
Abstract
Objective: To determine the nutrients and anti nutrients composition of sorrel leaves and seeds from red and yellow calyx plants.
Materials and methods: Fresh leaves and dry seeds of the two varieties were cleaned and milled. Standard assay techniques were used to evaluate the two varieties of the leaves and seeds for nutrients and anti nutrients composition.
Results: Both varieties of the leaves contained appreciable quantities of â-carotene (340.01 – 365.86 RE), fair levels of iron (6.34 – 8.56mg), ascorbic acid (10.84 – 11.90mg), phosphorus (23.03 – 23.64mg) and calcium (24.31 – 62.10mg) with traces of tannins, phytates and cyanide. The leaves from red calyx plant had higher (p<0.05) protein, carbohydrate, ash, â-carotene and iron than those from yellow calyx plant. The seeds of both varieties had high levels of calcium (327.33 – 336.97mg), phosphorus (313.54 – 343.24mg) and fair quantities of iron (6.57 – 8.67mg), sodium (9.08 – 9.36mg), riboflavin (6.05 – 6.12mg) and ascorbic acid (12.89 – 12.92mg). The seeds from yellow calyx plant contained more (p<0.05) protein,
ash, iron, phosphorus, â-carotene and thiamin than those from the red calyx plant. The seeds from yellow calyx plant also had lower (p<0.05) levels of tannins, phytates and cyanide than those from the red calyx plant.
Conclusion: The seeds from both varieties contained appreciable quantities of protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium and phosphorus. Increased utilization of the leaves and seeds from both varieties should be encouraged because of their rich nutrient potentials.
Key words: Sorrel leaves and seeds, nutrients, anti nutrients, varieties.
Materials and methods: Fresh leaves and dry seeds of the two varieties were cleaned and milled. Standard assay techniques were used to evaluate the two varieties of the leaves and seeds for nutrients and anti nutrients composition.
Results: Both varieties of the leaves contained appreciable quantities of â-carotene (340.01 – 365.86 RE), fair levels of iron (6.34 – 8.56mg), ascorbic acid (10.84 – 11.90mg), phosphorus (23.03 – 23.64mg) and calcium (24.31 – 62.10mg) with traces of tannins, phytates and cyanide. The leaves from red calyx plant had higher (p<0.05) protein, carbohydrate, ash, â-carotene and iron than those from yellow calyx plant. The seeds of both varieties had high levels of calcium (327.33 – 336.97mg), phosphorus (313.54 – 343.24mg) and fair quantities of iron (6.57 – 8.67mg), sodium (9.08 – 9.36mg), riboflavin (6.05 – 6.12mg) and ascorbic acid (12.89 – 12.92mg). The seeds from yellow calyx plant contained more (p<0.05) protein,
ash, iron, phosphorus, â-carotene and thiamin than those from the red calyx plant. The seeds from yellow calyx plant also had lower (p<0.05) levels of tannins, phytates and cyanide than those from the red calyx plant.
Conclusion: The seeds from both varieties contained appreciable quantities of protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium and phosphorus. Increased utilization of the leaves and seeds from both varieties should be encouraged because of their rich nutrient potentials.
Key words: Sorrel leaves and seeds, nutrients, anti nutrients, varieties.
