Essential and trace element contents of Moringa oleifera from Akure and Ile-Ife in the south western Nigeria

Abstract

Particle Induced X-ray Emission technique has been employed in the determination of essential and trace elements in Moringa oleifera leaves and seeds from two sites in South Western Nigeria. Sixteen elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr and Ba) were detected and quantified. Rb and Ba were detected only in the leaves, while Al and Na were found only in the seeds. The leaves have higher concentration of K (17053.90±56.28 ppm) whereas the element with highest concentration in the seeds was S (5474±44.35 ppm). The results show that the plant contains many elements of vital importance for human metabolism, diseases prevention and healing.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, leaves, seeds and elements