Evaluation of Some Vitamins and Macro-Nutrients Composition of Ethanolic Extract of Tecoma stans and Costus afer Leaves

Aim: This study aims to determine the presence of some vitamins and minerals in both T. stans and C. afer leaves.

Materials and Methods: Composition of some vitamins and minerals of ethanolic extract of T. stans and C. afer leaves were evaluated and collected at Malabo Campus, University of Calabar, Calabar and from Eman-Uruan local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria respectively.

The parameters investigated were determined using standard biochemical methods.

Results: The leaves contained a variety of vitamins (A, D, E, B complex and C) with vitamin E- (276.33.±3.28 mg/100 g) for Tecoma stans and (265.67±5.49 mg/100 g)for Costus afer. T. stans recorded higher concentration in mg/100 l for the determined vitamins except for vitamin D, whose concentration for C. afer (0.09±0.01 mg/100 g) was higher than the value (0.07±0.01 mg/100 g) for T. stans though it was significant. T. stans is significantly different [p=0.05] from C. afer for vitamins A and C respectively.

The mineral compositions of T. stans and C. afer leaves contain considerable amount of Potassium (3.27 ± 0.009 mg/l) and (4.63±0.09 mg/l), Magnesium (26.03 ± 0.009 mg/l) and (89.83±0.91̽ mg/l), Sodium (5.27 ± 0.078 mg/l) and (16.23±0.12̽ mg/l), Calcium (25.33 ± 0.88 mg/l) and (82.00±1.53̽ mg/l), Phosphorus (2.27±0.09 mg/l) and (1.63±0.09̽ mg/l), respectively. C. afer contained significant (p < 0.05) higher concentration of Mg, Ca, K and Na compared to T. stans. This indicates the tendency of T. stans and C. afer to be able to control osmotic balance, essential for bone formation, lower blood pressure and also act a source of antioxidant vitamins and minerals.

Conclusion: The presence of these vitamins and minerals in both T. stans and C. afer leaves in this leafy vegetables supports the use of these leaves for food and ethnomedicinal purposes in Nigeria and parts of the world where they are cultivated.