TITLE:
Nutritional and Bioactive Potentials of an Underutilized Vegetable—Vitex doniana
AUTHORS:
Mercy Onuekwuzu Ifeanacho, Shedrack Chinedu Ogunwa
KEYWORDS:
Proximate, Phytochemicals, Leaves, Nutrition, General Wellbeing
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.12 No.10,
October
27,
2021
ABSTRACT: The use of lesser-known plant foods in addressing nutritional
deficiencies is gaining popularity particularly in developing countries where
malnutrition is endemic. This study investigated the proximate, minerals,
vitamins, amino acids, tannins, phenolic acids, alkaloids, caratenoids,
phytosterols and glycosides composition of the leaves of Vitex doniana using AOAC
and gaschromatographic methods. The leaves had high (g/100g) fiber (14.67 -
35.39) and protein (15.46 - 37.30); but poor in lipid (0.80 - 1.93) and
carbohydrates (4.02 - 9.70) corresponding to 58.68% - 141.56%, 30.92% - 74.60%,
1.23% - 2.97% and 1.34% - 3.23% daily value. The protein had relatively high
level of essential amino acids (40.94). The leaves were rich in vitamins A, C
and E; mineral elements, iron, copper, manganese and cobalt. Tannic acid
constituted 100% of the tannins; ferulic
acid (46.99%) for phenolic compounds; viticin (99.96%) of total
alkaloids; lutein (35.62%) for carotenoids; vanillic acid (49.78%) and
sitosterol (61.6%) for phytosterols while the most abundant of the glycocides
was agnuside (72.64%) in the leaves. This result indicated that Vitex
doniana leaves are a good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds
for better nutrition and general wellbeing.