ABSTRACT
Wild vegetables
contribute immensely to the culinary basket and livelihoods of rural
communities in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among the people of Lebialem
highlands of south western Cameroon where at least 26 such species are consumed
as vegetables. To promote the consumption of these vegetables, the nutritional
quality of five preferred species in this area, Amaranthus dubius Mart. Ex Thell., Gnetum africanum Welw., Lomariopsis guineensis (Unerw.) Alston, Pennisetum purpureum Schumach and Vernonia amygdalina Del., was assessed using standard methods. L. guineensis had
the highest carbohydrate, protein, calorific value and ash content, and the
lowest fat content of 4.05%, very rich in K, Ca and Mg and the amino acids
leucine, arginine, lysine, phenylalanine and histidine. The amino acid content
was generally higher than 25 mg/100g.
Steroids, flavanoids and tannins occurred in moderate to high levels in all
five species. Alkaloids and saponins occurred at very low levels, while triterpenes only occurred at very
low levels in P. purpureum. The
quality of Lomariopsis guineensis, a
fern recently reported for the first time as edible is very promising. Pennisetum
purpureum, popular as a forage plant, has now been shown to
be valuable in the human diet. The study has established the safe and rich
nutritional value of these vegetables and that their consumption could combat
malnutrition and prevent some of the common nutritionally-related ailments.