Identification, characterization and quantification of chemical compounds in selected edible wild leafy vegetables

Abstract

This study identified, characterized and quantified the constituents of Basella alba Linn. var. alba, Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore, Launaea taraxacifolia Amin Ex. C. Jeffrey (Wild lettuce), Senecio biafrae Oliv. & Hiern. and Solanum nigrum L. var. virginicum (Black nightshade) leaves. Pulverised dried leaves (10 g each) of the vegetables were separately Soxhlet-extracted with 60 ml of n-hexane (99%). Aliquots (2 μl) of each concentrated plant extract were analysed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Forty-four (44) volatile compounds were identified from the analyses. Some of them are known antioxidants that are beneficial to health. Linoleic and palmitic acids were identified in leaves of B. alba (6.85% and 5.47%), C. crepidioides (14.88% and 27.22%) and L. taraxacifolia (20.78% and 42.35%) respectively. However, linoleic acid was absent in S. nigrum but linolenic acid (47.47%) was present as the major fatty acid. Oleic acid was identified respectively in leaves of B. alba (2.37%), C. crepidioides (6.86%) and L. taraxacifolia (7.14%). The information obtained from the GC-MS analysis of these wild underutilized vegetables can be used to develop novel drugs or food supplements.

Keywords: Underutilized Vegetables, GC-MS Analysis, Antioxidants