Proximate Analysis and Evolution of Energy Value from Leaves and Stem of Sword Fern: Nephrolepis exaltata

Abstract

The purpose of present study was to prognosticate the amount of each nutrient in the Arial parts of sword fern “Nephrolepis exaltata”. The study was conducted at Sarva Vidhyalaya Campus, Kadi, Gujarat (India) during the period of December-2019 to March-2020. The prognostication of nutritive component including ash%, moisture%, Crude Protein%, Crude Fat%, Crude fibers% and Carbohydrate was taken from AOAC and Standard Lowry method for estimation of protein. The proximate analysis indicates the monumental presence of crude protein and carbohydrates, moderate presence of crude lipid and fibers. The ash content was 8.65% and 12.42% in leaves and stem respectively, which manifests the existence of inorganic minerals. The Crude protein was recorded as 21.25% and 30.0% in leaves and stems respectively, whereas the crude lipid was 8.41% and 1.47% respectively. The leaves and stems were found to be a good source of energy value with 359.766 Kcal/100 gm and 313.266 Kcal/100 gm respectively.