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Micronutrient malnutrition is a global challenge. However, there are promising opportunities for combating it through the consumption of neglected and underutilized leafy green vegetables. Senecio biafrae is an underutilized and nutrient-rich green leafy vegetable with huge nutritional and health potentials that have remained unexploited. The aim of this research was to evaluate the proximate, mineral, vitamin, anti-nutrient contents of the leaves of Senecio biafrae. Leaves of Senecio biafrae were collected from five communities in Ekiti State and analyzed using standard biochemical methodologies. The results showed that the leaves differed significantly in nutritional and anti-nutritional contents. The leaves were rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and low in fat and anti-nutrient contents for all the groups studied. The Pearson's correlation results showed that most of the nutritional parameters either had inverse or no relationships with anti-nutrients. The crude protein showed significantly positive correlations with dry matter (0.90**) and a negative correlation with cyanogenic glycosides (-0.90**). Cyanogenic glycosides showed significantly negative correlations with potassium (-0.63**), calcium (-0.66**) and dry matter (-0.44*). Nitrate showed no significant relationship with any nutritional parameter. Oxalate and tannin showed no significant relationship with the vitamins. Phytate and tannin showed no significant relationship with the proximate contents and minerals. The results showed that Senecio biafrae leaf is nutrient-rich and could help to mitigate the effects of micronutrient deficiencies. The variations and relationships among the nutritional and anti-nutritional parameters could enhance meaningful selection and nutritional quality through breeding.

This study investigated the micronutrients, bioavailability of micronutrients, correlations among micronutrients and antinutrients in the seeds of African yam bean (AYB), accessions. The biochemical analysis of the seeds of Tropical Sphenostylis stenocarpa (TSs) AYB accessions; TSs 9, TSs 60, TSs 93, TSs 111, and TSs 116 were carried out. The results revealed significant (p<0.05) variations in the micronutrient contents of the AYB seeds. Potassium (K) was in the range of 241.0-271.0 mg/100 g, Manganese (Mn) 2.83-6.11, Phosphorus (P) 323.65-385.20 mg/100 g, Magnesium (Mg) 72.20-101.36 mg/100 g, Iron (Fe) 9.22-21.35 mg/100 g, Calcium (Ca) 286.50-414.0 mg/100 g, Zinc (Zn) 12.70-23.61 mg/100 g, Copper (Cu) 6.34-8.64 mg/100 g, Chromium (Cr) 0.041-0.081 and Sodium (Na) 35.85- 51.95 mg/100 g. The molar ratio of phytate: Zinc was from 1.24-2.09, Ca/P 0.84- 1.21 and Na/K ranged from 0.15-0.19. Potassium was positively and significantly (p<0.001) correlated with Cr (r = 0.91***), Mg (r = 0.94***) and Mn (0.81***). Manganese was positively and significantly associated with Fe (r = 0.90***) and Ca (r = 0.94***), Magnesium showed positively significant relationship with Cr (r = 0.75*), Fe showed significantly positive relationship with Cr (r = 0.80**). Calcium was positively and significantly associated with Cr (r = 0.92***). The TSs 111 had the highest concentrations of Mn, P and Cu. TSs 9 ranked the highest for Mg, K, Mg, Zn, and Na. TSs 93 was the most prominent accession for Fe and Ca concentrations. AYB seeds are micronutrient-dense and excellent sources of bioavailable minerals. The consumption of diets made from AYB seeds is recommended for enhanced nutrition and health of households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the huge nutritional and nutraceutical benefits associated with the consumption of African yam bean (AYB) seeds, AYB tubers are still underutilized in Nigeria, they are left to rot in farmers' fields. To create awareness about their nutrient density and provide information on the bioavailability of micronutrients in the tubers of AYB accessions, raw tubers of TSs 9, TSs 60 and TSs 93 were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The AYB tubers had the following composition on a fresh weight basis: crude protein (7.55-8.27%), carbohydrate (9.36-11.12%), crude fat (0.18-0.22%), crude fibre (0.33-0.750%), crude ash (0.44-0.59%), and moisture (79.76-80.82%). The fresh tubers were rich in minerals: potassium (532.88-557.80 mg/100 g), calcium (205.75-467.50 mg/100 g), magnesium (124.75-168.50 mg/100 g), iron (15.71-27.30 mg/100 g), zinc (8.57-14.80 mg/100 g), and manganese (0.68-1.98 mg/100 g). The phytate: Zn and the phytate: Fe molar ratios indicated the bioavailability of Fe and Zn in the raw AYB tubers. The results of this study indicate that AYB tubers are good sources of protein, energy and bioavailable Fe and Zn and should be utilized for human diets and livestock feed. With good processing, AYB tubers could contribute to food and nutrition security. There is a need for research on food products developed from AYB tubers to enhance their utilization and large-scale production in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]