DETERMINATION OF PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN BITTER LEAF (Vernonia amygdalina)
2nd Biennial Conference
Authors
Abstract
leaves were purchased from Towobowo market, sun-dried and grind for laboratory analysis. Proximate analysis
was determined using standard procedure and heavy metal constituents were carried out using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (AAS) following standard procedure. The result of analysis carried out on bitter leaf revealed
the following result; Fat (1.66 g/100g), Carbohydrate (52.80g/100g), Moisture (10.12g/100g), Dry matter
(39.88g/100g), Crude fibre (6.19g/100g), Ash Content (6.38g/100g) and Crude protein(22.86g/100g) respectively.
Heavy metals contents includes; Zn (0.096mg/100g), Pb (0.041mg/100g), Cr (0.05mg/100g), Fe (0.31mg/100g),
but Cadmium was below detection level in the samples. The bitter leaf examined had good proximate contents
and all heavy metals observed were within the acceptable limits of WHO except Cadmium that was not detected
and Lead that was above the recommended values of WHO. Therefore, the bitter leaf examined is good for
consumption and could be used in drug development for diseases treatment and prevention.
Keywords
AAS, Vernonia amygdalina, Proximate, Zn, Pb, Igboora
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