COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON FLAVONOIDS AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF TWO COMMON VEGETABLES EATEN IN EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to compare the nutritional value of the two often consumed vegetables (Gnetum africanum (Ukazi) and Pterocarpus santalinoides (Uturukpa)) in Enugu State, Nigeria. The flavonoids content was determined spectrophotometrically using rutin as the standard. While simple physical and chemical methods were used to assay the proximate composition. The results of the total flavonoid content revealed that G. Africanum is twice richer in total flavonoid (0.783 mg/g) than P. Santalnoides (0.345 mg/g). G. Africanum showed lower moisture content 41% than P. Santalinoides with 54% moisture. Outside moisture content G. Africanum had higher quality content values for ash (14.7% vs. 13.95%), crude protein (15.12% vs. 6.44%), and crude lipid (2.79% vs. 2.20%). The only exception were dietary fiber content, where P. Santalinoides was slightly higher (7.10% vs. G. Africanum’s 6.1%) and carbohydrate (9.29 %) than G. Africanum (7.31 %). G. Africanum demonstrated superior nutritional density compared to P. Santalinoides across most measured metrics