Assessment of Proximate, Mineral, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Brassica oleraceae L. Leaf Concentrates

Abstract

Food insecurity, ill health due to microbial infection and malnutrition have led to the search for alternative and affordable measures to address food shortage problems and associated health issues worldwide. This provides an opportunity to investigate the use of plants as a remedy. A fresh sample of Brassica oleracea was selected for the study; the sample was obtained and identified at the Botany Department of the University of Ibadan, washed before being processed into the leaf concentrate and assessed for proximate, mineral, phytochemical and antimicrobial potentials using the standard methods. The results of proximate analysis in g/100g showed; moisture; 8.80±0.16, Ash; 1.38±0.10, crude fat; 4.66±0.12, crude protein; 35.52±0.3, crude fibre; 3.16±0.06 and NFE; 46.45±0.23. The mineral analysis in mg/100g showed Na; 35.81±0.23, K; 3.37±0.01, Ca; 24.71±0.02, Mg; 0.24±0.00, P; 0.91±0.00, Fe; 0.90±0.01, Zn; 0.50±0.00, Cr; 0.10±0.00, Ni; 0.00, and Cu; 0.02±0.01. The sample contains some bioactive phytochemical compounds like steroids, anthraquinones terpenes, and coumarin. The sample extracts also showed antimicrobial potential against the ten selected microbes. The study conducted so far on the selected sample revealed that the sample will be viable ingredients in food formulation, pharmaceutical raw materials and alternative sources of protein.