Nutritive and Anti-Nutritive Evaluation of Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) Leaves

Abstract

Levels of some nutrients and antinutrients of sweet potatoes ( Ipomoea batatas ), leaves were determined using standard analytical methods. Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, moisture contents and calorific values were 24.85%, 4.90%, 7.20%, 11.10%, 51.95%, 82.21% and 351.30 kcal respectively. The vitamin compositionwas found to be at the levels of 0.672 mg/100g for vitamin A and 15.20 mg/100g for vitamin C. The elemental analysis of the leaves in mg/100g Dry matter (DM) indicated that the leaves contained appreciable levels of zinc (0.08), potassium (4.05), sodium (4.23), manganese (4.64), calcium (28.44), magnesium (340.00) and iron (16.00). The antinutrient composition for phytic acid, cyanide, tannins and total oxalate were 1.44 ± 0.01, 30.24 ± 0.02, 0.21 ± 0.02 and 308.00 ± 1.04 mg/100g respectively. These results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, vitamins and mineral elements and low levels of toxicants and should be included in diets to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body.