Proximate and Mineral Compositions of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaves

The proximate and mineral compositions of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves were evaluated in both dry and fresh samples to determine the ash, carbohydrate, fat and oil, crude fibre, protein, moisture and mineral contents using the standard method of Association of Analytical Chemist (AOAC) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometeric (AAS) method. The result showed that Bryophyllum pinnatum contain (1.21 ± 0.07 and 0.8 ± 0.03%) ash, (72.92 ± 1.08 and 4.46 ± 0.52%) carbohydrate, (1.38 ± 0.06 and 1. 15 ± 0.05%) fat, (6.02 ± 1. 06 and 0.95 ± 0.06%) fibre, (5. 38 ± 0.10 and 1.61 ± 0.02%) protein, and (13.01 ± 1.03 and 91.03± 0.55%) moisture in dry and fresh samples respectively. The result also revealed that potassium (3.49±0.01and 3.74 ±0.04 %) and calcium (4.99±0.01 and 6.82 ± 0.04 %) were the major minerals present in the samples. This indicated that Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf is a good source of human nutrition and should be included as dietary supplement.

Author(s): B. U. Nwali, A. N. C Okaka, C. E. Offor, P. M. Aja* and U. E. Nwachi

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