Evaluation of mineral contents in Cleome gynandra leaves and stalks from Burkina Faso

Abstract

Cleome gynandra is an herbal plant highly consumed and appreciated by populations from Burkina Faso and other parts of Africa. Two samples of Cleome gynandra were collected and submitted to a comparative analysis by ICP-AES to determine the content of nutritive and toxic elements in leaves and stalks as fresh or boiled material. Cleome gynandra leaves and stalks contained important quantities of calcium and potassium. But the fresh leaves contained higher contents in calcium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus than the fresh stalks. The boiling practice of fresh leaves and stalks reduced the mineral contents by 30 to 70%. These results indicate that Cleome gynandra represents a real potential source for mineral nutrients in human nutrition.

Keywords: Cleome gynandra, leaves, stalks, boiling effect, mineral, ICP-AES

JOURNAL OF THE CAMEROON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES VOL. 11 No. 1 (2013)