Nutritional Value of Two Underutilized Wild Plant Leaves Consumed as Food in Northern Angola: Mondia whitei and Pyrenacantha klaineana

Abstract

Background/Aims: Traditional edible plants are good sources of minerals, fibers, proteins and others useful phytochemicals for human nutrition and health. Mondia whitei and Pyrenacantha klaineana leaves are underutilized, wild edible plants considered as food and spice in habitants in some part of Northern Angola. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional value and mineral contents of M. whitei and P. klaineana leaves. Materials and Methods: The leaves were harvested from a forest. The samples were analyzed for proximate and mineral contents using the standard methods. The results were analyzed statistically using mean and standard deviation. Results: The proximate composition of M. whitei raw and cooked leaves showed that the samples had ranged of ash, 9.53 - 12.93%, fiber 13.16 - 15.11%, protein 16.48 - 19.24%, fat 2.95 - 4.94%, carbohydrates 51.59 - 54.48% and energy (kcal) 310.39 - 326.10 in 100 g respectively. The proximate composition of P. klaineana raw and cooked leaves showed that the samples had range of ash, 4.13 - 6.74%, fiber 40.45 - 43.56%, protein 14.93 - 18.80%, fat 1.13 - 3.78%, carbohydrates 29.74 - 36.58% and energy (kcal) 217.77 - 227.88 in 100 g respectively. The mineral contents of the P. klaineana raw leaves, K 2459.20 mg, Ca 2126.33 mg, P 239.90 mg, Se 77.86 mg are richer than M. whitei raw leaves, K 1149.83 mg, Ca 844.87 mg, P 175.89 mg, etc. Conversely, the leaves of M. whitei are richer in Se 87.80 mg and Cu 3.14 mg/ 100 g than the P. klaineana (Se 77.86 and Cu 2.84 mg/100 g). Conclusion: The wild edible leaves are rich in nutritional value and mineral composition such as fiber, protein, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, P, Se etc. The consumption of M. whitei and P. klaineana leaves should be vulgarized to nutrition, diversity diet and food security.