Anatomical, Proximate, Vitamin and Mineral Studies on Piper guineense (Piperaceae)

Abstract

Anatomical, proximate, vitamin and mineral studies were carried out on the leaf, petiole, stem and root of Piper guineense using standard techniques. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed for data analysis. Anatomical result revealed similar features in their epidermis and cortex and differences in their vascular bundles arrangement. Moisture was highest in the stem (16.91±0.00%), crude protein and Fat were highest in the leaf (16.41±0.10% and 9.43±0.01% respectively) crude fibre and Ash were highest in the root (5.91±0.06% and 10.30±0.63% respectively). Vitamin A and vitamin C, phosphorus, zinc and iron were highest in the leaf (66.24±0.04 µg/g, 201.05±0.00 mg/100 g, 34.13±0.22 mg / 100 g, 0.45±0.00 mg / 100 g and 14.62±0.01 mg / 100 g respectively. The work has demonstrated that the plant is really a power house of nutrients. Apart from the leaf eaten by our people, other parts of the plant could also be used as food to supplement our daily nutrient needs, animal feed and in the manufacture of drugs. Also the anatomical result is an additional aid to the taxonomic characterization of the plant.