Comparative Study on Phytochemical and Mineral Content of Three Leafy Vegetables Commonly Consumed in Selected Local Government Area of Ogun State, South Western Part of Nigeria (Launaea taraxacifolia, Conyza sumatrensis and Bidens pilosa)

This study comparatively determined phytochemical and mineral content of three leafy vegetables “Launaea taraxacifolia, Bidens pilosa and Conyza sumatrensis†. Nigeria is endowed with numerous varieties of useful vegetables whose fruits, stems, roots and leaves serve various important roles in human nutrition. Unfortunately, many of these vegetables have not been put into maximum use. The neglect of these wild food plants has been attributed to the insufficiency of information on their nutritional profile and potential to serve as food security. Mineral analysis of three leafy vegetables in this study revealed that; sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and manganese ranged from 4.76±0.02mg/100g to 5.43±0.03 mg/100g, 16.23mg/100g to 26.98mg/100g, 12.47mg/100g to 17.00mg/100g, 11.99mg/100g to13.35mg/100g, 38.52mg/100g to 70.22mg/100g and 2.22mg/100g to 5.40mg/100g respectively. Also, phytochemical analysis of this study indicate that; flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid, steroid, tannin and phenol ranged from 0.54±0.03mg to1.28±0.02mg, 0.67±0.01mg to 1.63±0.02mg, 0.003±0.00mg to 0.120±0.02mg, 0.006±0.00mg to 0.120±0.02mg, 0.03±0.00mg to 1.97±0.02mg and 0.05±0.00mg to 0.21±0.00mg respectively. Analysis of this study therefore established that Conyza sumatrensis contained high amount of minerals; Mg (16.23mg/100g); P (38.52mg/100g); K (13.35mg/100g); Ca (12.47mg/100g) with an appreciable amount of bioactive compounds; flavonoid (1.76mg/100g); Saponin (1.63mg/100g); tannin (1.97mg/100g) and alkaloid (0.69mg/100g) compared to other vegetables samples. However, this study therefore concluded that leafy vegetables samples examined contained an appreciable mineral elements and bioactive compounds responsible for nutritional importance and therapeutical properties necessary to maintain good health, proper functional mechanism in the body and it could be a means to alleviate nutritional deficiencies. It is therefore recommended that these native vegetables is good for consumption.