Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Comparative Analysis of the Phytochemicals, Proximate and Mineral Compositions of Scent Leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) Leaves

Nkoli M. Mgbemena, Ngozi F. Amako

International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review · pp. 1–9 · Published 18 Jul 2020

10.9734/ijbcrr/2020/v29i730200

Abstract

Ocimum gratissimum (fam.Lamiaceae) ‘Scent leaf’ and Vernonia amygdalina (fam.Asteraceae) ‘Bitter leaf’ are commonly consumed vegetables in Southern Nigeria. O. gratissimum is used by the ‘Igbos’ of South East Nigeria to flavor soups and stews while it is popular with the ‘Yorubas’ of South West Nigeria for treatment of stomach disorders. V. amygdalina is a well known vegetable in West Africa used as both food and for its pharmaceutical properties. The enormous use of these vegetables in the diet motivated the present study whereby the food compositions, mineral constituents and the phytochemicals of the two vegetables were determined. Qualitative analysis, of the aqueous extracts, revealed the presence of saponins, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, phenolics and anthraquinones in both vegetables. Generally V. amygdalina contained higher quantities of secondary metabolites, saponin which was reported as the highest amount was 5.71±0.12 mg/g and 3.52±0.01 mg/g followed by terpenoids 5.64±0.11 mg/g and 3.40±0.11 mg/g in V. amygdalina and O. gratissimum respectively. There is however a minute amount of anthraquinone in the two vegetables. Proximate analysis and macro elements were determined using their various standard methods. The results of proximate analysis revealed the presence of moisture (12.28 ± 0.02% and 10.01± 0.01%) protein (35.37±0.11% and 22.20±0.02%) and total ash (6.00±0.20% and 5.75±0.10%) each in V. amygdalina and O. gratisimum respectively. The following minerals were present calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, copper and zinc, with zinc being in the highest concentration (46.80± 0.03 mg/kg and 58.00±0.12 mg/kg) followed by copper (9.45±0.11 mg/kg and 16.60 ± 0.03 mg/kg) each in V. amygdalina and O. gratissimum respectively. There are higher values of phytochemicals and food components in V. amygdalina while O. gratissimum had higher mineral contents. These two vegetables are potential source of components for complementary medicine.

Plant food bitter leaf scent leaf nutrients

References (11)

  1. 1 Antimicrobial and Chemopreventive Properties of Herbs and Spices [DOI]
  2. 2 Terpenes and Terpenoids [DOI]
  3. 3 PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF Vernonia amygdalina AND Ocimum gratissimum EXTRACTS AND THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON SOME DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA
  4. 4 Studies on Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Cissus quadrangularis
  5. 5 Phytochemical Constituents and Antimicrobial and Grain Protectant Activities of Clove Basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.) Grown in Nigeria [DOI]
  6. 6 Phytochemical Screening and Mineral Composition of the Leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (Scent Leaf) [DOI]
  7. 7 Determination of Proximate Composition of Various Parts of Two Dracaena Specie [DOI]
  8. 8 Proximate analysis, mineral composition, and antioxidant properties of bitter leaf and scent leaf [DOI]
  9. 9 Comparative study of proximate, mineral and phytochemical analysis of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera [DOI]
  10. 10 Antibacterial Effect of Vernonia Amygdalina and Ocimum Gratissimum on Some Bacteria that Cause Opportunistic Infections in HIV/AIDS Patients [DOI]
  11. 11 An overview of the role of diet and nutrition in carcinogenesis.

Cited by 14

Effects of solvent extraction on the phytoconstituents and in vitro antioxidant activity properties of leaf extracts of the two selected medicinal plants from Malawi

Lesten Eliez Chisomo Chatepa, Bonface Mwamatope, Ibrahim Chikowe · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2024

Analysis of Proximate, Mineral and Phytochemical Composition of Fresh and Dry Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) in Bida Metropolis, Niger State

Obi, P. U., Babagana, M., Idris, I. · UMYU Scientifica · 2024

In vitro study of anti-coccidial activity of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina leaves extracts against Eimeria magna and Eimeria media

Basile Konmy, Cocou Christian Dansou, Lissette Dègla · 2025

Antioxidant, Anticoccidial, and Toxicological Evaluation of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Extracts Against Eimeria spp

Basile Konmy, Christian C. Dansou, Lissette Dègla · 2025

Antidiabetic Potential of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina Combined Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

N.A. Imaga, F.N. Iheagwam, A.O. Nlebedim · Phytothérapie · 2022

Showing 5 of 14 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

5

Page views

0

PDF downloads

0

Outbound clicks

14

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.