Comparative Assessment of Nutrient Values and Heavy Metals Content of Talinum triangulare Collected from Farm Land (Post Service) and Dumpsite (Oko Fili) in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Talinum triangulare is a nutritious vegetable whose consumption is popular in Nigeria. Therefore, the necessity to consume a very quality and hygienic T. triangulare cannot be over emphasized. Aims: To investigate the nutrient contents and level of heavy metals in T. triangulare collected from dumpsite and farmland. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, Lagos State University, (Oko fili in Alimosho Local Government Area) and farmland (Post Service in Ojo Local Government Area) between January to March, 2021. Methodology: The data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 and a standard procedure was used for t-test analysis. Results: All the amino acids detected in T. triangulare from both dumpsite and farmland had no significant differences (p>0.05). There are no significant difference (p>0.05) between lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and selenium (Se) in samples examined across the two sampling sites, while arsenic (except in the soil from dumpsite) and nickel (except in plant from both sites) were not detected. However, the concentrations of heavy metals such as calcium(Ca), iron(Fe), potassium(K), magnesium(Mg), sodium(Na), phosphorus(P), and zinc (Zn) in both the soil and T. triangulare  samples from the dumpsite are significantly(p<0.05) higher than that from the farmland. The respective values of these metals (mg/100g) in the plant at dumpsite and farmland are: Ca (343.400±206.475), Fe (82.000±29.839), K(90.900±10.748), Mg(1595.250±149.553), Na(2217.050), P(502.250±140.077) and Zn(60.620±8.739) respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, T. triangulare examined in this study is safe for consumption, however its excess K, Na, and Mg content can be recommended for people with deficiency in those nutrients.