Nutritive values, Mineral and Antioxidant properties of Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce)

Abstract

Proximate, mineral and antioxidant composition of the leaf and root samples of Pistia stratiotes were estimated using standard methods. The samples show appreciable levels of moisture (4.50±0.50%and 4.50±0.10%), crude fibre (17.50±0.87% and 20.50±1.80%), crude lipid (2.17±0.29% and 1.83±0.29%), crude protein (6.96±0.13% and 3.18±0.14%), ash (35.20±1.56% and 44.50±0.50%) and carbohydrate (38.20±2.08% and 30.00±1.46%) respectively. The minerals determined were sodium (373.00±0.50mg/100g and 113.00±0.06mg100/g), potassium (3283.00±0.76mg100/g and 1750.00±0.50mg100/g), phosphorus (336.00±0.10mg/100g and 313.00±0.03mg/100g), calcium (230.00±0.01mg/100g and 230.00±0.03mg/100g) and magnesium (370.00±0.03mg/100g and 230.00±0.03mg/100g) respectively. The antioxidant estimated are vitamin A (480.0±1.50mg/100g and
1050.00±1.50mg/100g), vitamin C (560.00±0.20mg/100g and 3130.00±0.31mg/100g) and vitamin E (8260.00±3.00mg/100g and 3060±1.83mg100/g) respectively. The results show that the leaf and root portions of P.stratiotes have potential nutritional uses and the leaf parts have significant (P<0.05) high values of mineral element and antioxidant than that of the root samples.

Keywords: Pistia stratiotes, mineral elements, proximate analysis, antioxidants