TITLE:
Proximate Composition of Leaves of the African Rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus)
AUTHORS:
Dery George, Imoro A. Ziblim, Dzitse Selasi
KEYWORDS:
Proximate Analysis, Pterocarpus Erinaceus, Dry Matter, Carbohydrates, Fodder
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
14,
2023
ABSTRACT: Plants have always been exploited worldwide for
food, medicines, shelter, and other purposes because they are readily
available, affordable and acceptable to a large populace of the world. The
study was conducted to gather information on the proximate composition of fresh
and dry leaves of Pterocarpus erinaceus. The proximate composition of the leaf samples was determined
using the standard methods of analysis of the Association of Official
Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Proximate analysis of the fresh leaf samples of the
plant shows a higher moisture content compared to the dry leaf samples. The
total fat and total ash contents of the fresh leaf samples were however lower
compared to values recorded for the dry leaf samples. The dry matter content of
fresh leaf samples was also lower compared to that of the dry leaf samples.
Fresh leaf samples again recorded the least crude protein content compared to
dry leaf samples. Carbohydrates content in fresh leaf samples was higher
compared to dry leaf samples. Generally, higher proximate values were recorded
for dry leaf samples than for fresh leaves. Dry matter and moisture contents
were detected in high quantities in both fresh and dry leaf samples of P. erinaceus. These results could be a justification for the multiple uses of
the plant leaves across Sub-Saharan Africa. Further research should be carried
out on the mineral, phytochemical and vitamin composition between the fresh and
dry leaves of the plant.