NUTRITIONAL IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS LEAFY VEGETABLES IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Abstract

Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) production is rapidly increasing in urban and peri-urban areas of Cote d'Ivoire. They are often consumed by the population. Nutritional composition of samples of selected ILVs collected in urban and peri-urban farms and markets of Abidjan City were determined. Analysis included pH, total proteins, sugars, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), β-carotene (provitamin A), ash content, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and oxalic acid. The results revealed that ILVs are all characterized by acid tissues. Protein levels are noticeable varying from 20.2% in roselle to 46.6% in black nightshade. Total sugar content varied from 1.85 g/100 g dry weight (DW) in spinach to 13.36 g/100 g DW in jute mallow. Ascorbic acid concentration is more important in jute mallow (34.82 mg/100 g of fresh weight (FW)) than in spinach (22.67 mg/100 g FW). β-carotene content is high in Lagos spinach (2.84 mg/100 g FW). Ash content varies from 8.88% (roselle) to 22.4% (spinach). Spider plant has the highest amounts of phosphorus (45.04 mg/100 g DW) and iron (51.32 mg/100 g DW). The lowest magnesium and calcium concentration is contained in roselle (0.62 and 1.28 mg/100 g DW respectively). Roselle also has the highest content of oxalic acid (16.65 mg/100 g DW) while amaranth has the lowest (5.92 mg/100 g DW). The study showed that these indigenous leafy vegetables have high nutritive contents and could significantly contribute to the strengthening of nutrition security in Cote d'Ivoire.