COMPOSITIONAL STUDIES OF BAPHIA PUBESCENS (UROHUN) LEAVES

Baphia pubescens is a commonly consumed vegetable in Western part of Nigeria especially among the Ikale people of Ondo state. The plant has been observed for its medicinal properties. The present study was aimed at evaluating the nutrient composition of the plant. Proximate analysis showed that the plant contain high percentage of carbohydrate 45.27±2.31, crude fibre 12.36±1.51, protein 12.00±2.08, Ash 11.85±0.96, Moisture content 8.87±0.66, crude fat 6.59±0.61. Phosphorus was the most abundant mineral (26.85±0.64), followed by potassium, magnesium, sodium and zinc with values 25.99±3.44, 24.66±2.95, 22.49±3.89, 21.66±3.62, 21.60±2.29mg/100g respectively. Among the anti-nutrients studied, phytic acid has the highest concentration (16.58 ± 0.92mg/100g) while oxalates (3.45 ± 0.28) and tannin (1.97±0.21) were low in concentration. Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of essential amino acids in good quantities (g/100g protein); arginine (5.11), Phenylalanine (4.31), valine (4.23), lysine (4.07), threonine (3.41) and isoleucine (3.29). Glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid while the amino acid with lowest concentration was cystine (0.97). This result therefore indicates and implicates its consumption as a good nutritive source to meet the required nutritional demands of man.