Abstract:
Vernonia cinerea is a herb having several medicinal properties such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and anticarcenogenic. This work investigated the proximate and mineral composition in different parts (leaves, roots, stem and flowers) of V. cinerea using standard procedures. Collected data of proximate and mineral analysis were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The results of the proximate composition were found to be as follows; ash content ranged between 10.00 ± 1.32 % w/w and 20.17 ± 6.74 % w/w while both leaves and roots had the highest and flower had the least ash content which was significantly different (P<0.05). The moisture content ranged between 61.24 ± 2.17 % - 75.45 ± 4.74 % w/w in the different parts of the plant. The mean nitrogen content ranged between 1.91 ± 0.23 % w/w and 4.80 ± 0.18 % w/w. The protein content in flower, leaf, stem and roots of V. cinerea were significantly different (P<0.05) and the values ranged between 9.19 ± 1.08 % w/w - 23.07 ± 0.85 % w/w %. The plant parts were also analyzed for mineral elements such as Zn and Cu metal ions using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The levels of these elements found were; Zn:5.58 ± 0.14 - 51.27 ± 0.81 mg/kg and Cu 3.29 ± 0.06 - 8.57 ± 0.10 mg/kg with few exceptions. The mineral content of flower, roots, stem and leaves were significantly different (P<0.05). Therefore, V. cinerea as a therapeutically beneficial herb has a significant amount of proximate and mineral ion composition that can be specified.
