TITLE:
Nutritional Potential of Two Leafy Vegetables Leptadenia hastata Decne and Senna obtusifolia Link Consumed in Senegal
AUTHORS:
Nicolas Cyrille Ayessou, Mady Cissé, Mathieu Gueye, Cheikh Ndiaye, Codou Mar Diop
KEYWORDS:
Leptadenia hastata, Senna obtusifolia, Woody Leafy Vegetables, Nutritional Values, Domestication
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.9 No.2,
February
9,
2018
ABSTRACT: This study focused on two woody leafy vegetables Leptadenia hastata Decne and Senna obtusifolia Link, commonly consumed in Senegal. Leaves were col-lected from three regions. Then, proximate analyses and micronutrients were carried out to evaluate their nutritional values. Results revealed that protein level of S. obtusifolia (SO) is richer (21.75%) than Leptadenia hastata (LH) (18.16%). The cellulose and carbohydrate contents of the two vegetable’s leaves are in the same order except those of LH from Widou which are less rich in cellulose (8.31%) and richest in carbohydrate (6.35%). These leaves are also good sources of various mineral elements and especially iron. Leaves of LH appear to be richer in iron and magnesium, while SO appears to be richer in calcium. Vitamin C intakes of SO leaves are better than those of LH and respectively range from 142 to 196.5 and 22.5 to 159.5 mg/100 g. According to the use of this leafy vegetable by the populations, a domestication opportunity is thus justified to ensure availability and accessibility of these significant sources of micronutrients.