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Nutritional and Mineral Composition of the Fruits of Solanum torvum from Ghana

  • January 2015
Authors:
Osei Akoto at Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology
Osei Akoto
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye at Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
Ama Samba Howard
Ama Samba Howard
Ama Samba Howard
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Niib Konwuruk at Tamale Technical University
Niib Konwuruk
  • Tamale Technical University
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Abstract

The fruits of Solanum torvum are regularly used in many Ghanaian food preparations because of the belief that they are very nutritious. The main aim of this work was to assess the nutritional and mineral composition of the Solanum torvum fruits. Proximate analyses of dried powdered fruits were therefore performed. The results indicated that the fruits possess high moisture content (86.230%). The values for the other parameters checked were carbohydrates 7.033%, proteins 2.322%, fats 0.278%, ash 0.143% and crude fiber 3.993%. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) analysis of essential minerals was performed to ascertain the concentrations of iron, manganese, calcium, copper and zinc in the fruit. The results were iron (76.869mg/kg), manganese (19.466mg/kg), calcium (221.583mg/kg), copper (2.642mg/kg) and zinc (21.460mg/kg). Vitamins A and C contents were also analyzed and found to be 0.078mg/100g and 2.686mg/100g respectively. The high iron content of the fruits proves the fact that, the fruits truly have hematinic property.
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International Journal of Chemical and Biomolecular Science
Vol. 1, No. 4, 2015, pp. 222-226
http://www.aiscience.org/journal/ijcbs
* Corresponding author
E-mail address: lsborquaye.sci@knust.edu.gh (L. S. Borquaye)
Nutritional and Mineral Composition of the Fruits
of Solanum torvum from Ghana
Osei Akoto, Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
*
, Ama Samba Howard,
Niib Konwuruk
Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Abstract
The fruits of Solanum torvum are regularly used in many Ghanaian food preparations because of the belief that they are very
nutritious. The main aim of this work was to assess the nutritional and mineral composition of the Solanum torvum fruits.
Proximate analyses of dried powdered fruits were therefore performed. The results indicated that the fruits possess high
moisture content (86.230%). The values for the other parameters checked were carbohydrates 7.033%, proteins 2.322%, fats
0.278%, ash 0.143% and crude fiber 3.993%. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) analysis of essential minerals was
performed to ascertain the concentrations of iron, manganese, calcium, copper and zinc in the fruit. The results were iron
(76.869mg/kg), manganese (19.466mg/kg), calcium (221.583mg/kg), copper (2.642mg/kg) and zinc (21.460mg/kg). Vitamins
A and C contents were also analyzed and found to be 0.078mg/100g and 2.686mg/100g respectively. The high iron content of
the fruits proves the fact that, the fruits truly have hematinic property.
Keywords
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Proximate Analysis, Vitamins, Iron Rich Fruits
Received: August 25, 2015 / Accepted: September 2, 2015 / Published online: September 13, 2015
@ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
1. Introduction
The Solanum torvum (Solanaceae) plant is a common plant
native to many tropical countries in Africa and the West
Indies. It is also found in some parts of Asia. In Ghana, and
many other countries, the fruits are used for food. The leaves
are used in many traditional medical practises in Africa.
(Adjanohoun et al 1996) The plant grows as a short (about 2-
4 m tall), erect shrub with lots of branches. Solanum torvum
grows into a large thorny impenetrable thicket (Mohan and
Bhandare 2012). Some other species, which belong to the
genus Solanum, are Solanum ficifolium and Solanum
ferrugineum (Langeland and Burks 1998). The fruits of
Solanum torvum are clusters of tiny green spheres (about 1
cm in diameter) that become yellow when fully ripen. They
are thin-fleshed and contain numerous flat, round, brown
seeds (Howard 1989; Liogier 1995; Little, Woodbury, and
Wadsworth 1974).
Mineral nutrition is a significant aspect of human life and it
plays a pivotal role for healthy growth. These nutritional
minerals have various sources. In many African countries,
wild edible plants are used as food and hence contribute
significantly to the nutritional needs of the people. In Ghana,
Solanum torvum (locally referred to as ‘Kwahunsusua’) is
used essentially for food. In the south of Ghana, especially, it
is added to palm nut soup and some stews. It is a general
belief in the Ghanaian society that the fruit of Solanum
torvum is rich in minerals that help increase the amount of
blood in the human body, hence, it is generally advised by
locals to take the juice of Solanum torvum to prevent anemia.
Various pharmacologically active compounds have been
isolated from Solanum torvum. Aqueous extracts of Solanum
torvum, for example, depress the number of erythrocytes,
leukocytes and platelets in the blood of mice and hence are
International Journal of Chemical and Biomolecular Science Vol. 1, No. 4, 2015, pp. 222-226 223
lethal to them (Tapia, A., R., Astudillo, A., V., & Uribe, R.
1996). Some extracts of the plants have also being reported
to be used in the treatment of coughs, colds and skin diseases
(Sundari, G., S., Rekha, S., and Parvathi 2013). Methanolic
extracts of Solanum torvum fruits have demonstrated a wide
range of antimicrobial activity against certain human and
animal clinical isolates (Chah, Muko, and Oboegbulem
2000).
In this work, we report the nutritional content of the fruits of
Solanum torvum. Specifically, we have performed an
extensive proximate analysis and determined the
concentrations of essential metals and vitamins present in the
fruits of Solanum torvum sold in markets of Kumasi, Ghana.
2. Methods
2.1. Sample Preparation
Fresh samples were obtained from the Ayeduase, Ayigya and
Central markets, all in Kumasi. The unripe fruits were
removed from the stalk and well washed with distilled water.
The fruits were then wiped to dry all the water around it.
They were then dried in the oven at 60°C and left overnight.
The dried sample was blended into powder and stored in a
plastic container.
2.2. Proximate Analysis
Total Carbohydrates, Total Ash, Crude Fiber, Crude Fat,
Protein and Moisture Content were determined using
standard methods.
2.2.1. Moisture Content Determination
About 2 g of the fresh sample was transferred to a previously
dried and weighed crucible. The crucible was placed into an
oven and the sample dried for 5 hours at 105°C. The sample
was then cooled in a desiccator and then weighed. The
moisture content is expressed in weight percentage by
measuring the weight loss after drying.
2.2.2. Protein Determination
The Kjhedahl method was used. About 2 g of the sample was
put into a digestion flask and heated with 25 ml of
concentrated H
2
SO
4
in the presence of selenium catalyst. The
sample was digested using a digestion burner till a clear
solution was obtained. The digested sample was then
transferred into a 100 ml volumetric flask and topped to the
mark. 25 ml boric acid was measured into a 250 ml conical
flask and two drops of mixed indicator was added. The
apparatus was flushed with boiling distilled water and then
the liquid was drained from the steam trap before use. The
conical flask and its contents were then placed under pressure
in such a way that the tip was completely immersed in the
solution. 10 ml of the digested sample solution was poured
into the steam jacket through a funnel and then 15 ml of 40%
NaOH was then added to the decomposition flask. The funnel
stopcock was closed to drive the liberated ammonia into the
collection flask. Steam was forced through the decomposition
chamber by shutting the stopcock on the steam trap outlet.
The boric acid changed to bluish green as soon as it came
into contact with the ammonia. The conical flask was then
removed after 5 minutes. The content of the flask was titrated
against 0.1 N HCl until the solution became colorless. This
was done in triplicate. A blank titration was done to correct
for traces of nitrogen in the reagents.
2.2.3. Crude Fat Determination
About 2 g of the sample was transferred into a Whatman
paper and sealed. 150 ml of petroleum ether was poured into
previously dried and weighed round bottom flask. The
sample was then placed into the Soxhlet extractor and the
condenser connected to it. The setup was assembled and the
flask placed onto the heating mantle. The sample was then
refluxed for 4 hours. After the extraction, the thimble was
removed and the solvent recovered. The fat that was obtained
was then dried together with the flask in an oven for 30
minutes at 105°C. It was then cooled in a desiccator and
weighed.
2.2.4. Crude Fiber Determination
The sample in the filter paper used for the fat determination
was transferred into a 750 ml Erlenmeyer flask and 0.5 g of
asbestos was added. 200 ml of boiling 1.25% H
2
SO
4
was
added immediately and the flask was set on a hot plate and
the condenser was connected. After 30 minutes the flask was
removed and its contents were immediately filtered through a
clean linen cloth. The sample was then washed repeatedly
with a large volume of water until the washings were no
longer acidic. 200 ml of 1.25% of boiling NaOH was added
to the filtrate. It was also boiled for 30 minutes and washed
several times until it was no longer basic. The residue was
then transferred into a weighed crucible. The crucible and its
content were dried and ashed for 30 minutes. The crucible
was then cooled and weighed. The percentage crude fiber
was expressed as weight loss in percentage.
2.2.5. Total Ash Determination
About 2 g of the sample was measured into a previously
weighed crucible. The crucible together with the sample was
put in a furnace (600°C) for 2 hours. The crucible was then
removed and cooled. The total ash was expressed as a
percentage of the initial weight.
2.2.6. Total Carbohydrate Determination
The total carbohydrate content of the sample was obtained by
224 Osei Akoto: Nutritional and Mineral Composition of the Fruits of Solanum torvum from Ghana
taking the difference between 100 and the sum of the
moisture, crude fiber, protein, fat and ash contents in the
sample.
2.3. Essential Metals Determination
2.006g of ash from the total ash determination was used for
the essential metals determination. The ash was dissolved in
5% HCL in the crucible used for the ashing. The solution was
transferred into a 50 ml volumetric flask and topped to the
mark. The essential metal content was analyzed with an
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS).
2.4. Determination of Vitamin A
(β-Carotene)
The unripe fruits were well washed with tap water and
blended with a little amount of water. This was then sieved
and transferred into a clean bottle to be stored. About 10 ml
of the sample was measured and poured into a mortar. A
spatula full of anhydrous sodium sulphate was added to
remove the water in the sample. 45 ml of acetone was added
in bits to the sample while grinding. The mixture was
filtered. The filtrate was transferred into a separating funnel
containing 20 ml of petroleum spirit and then washed with
water by using a wash bottle to wash the sides of the funnel.
This was repeated until the aqueous layer was no longer
turbid. The organic layer was filtered by placing a few grams
of anhydrous sodium sulphate on the filter paper. 2 ml of the
organic layer was measured into a small test tube. Nitrogen
gas was used to evaporate the sample to dryness and then it
was reconstituted with 700 µl of methanol dichloromethane
(50:50). 20 µl of the sample was then injected into a
Shimadzu HPLC with an ODS C18 column and a mobile
phase of acetonitrile, dichloromethane and methanol
(70:20:10) in isocratic mode. Analyte was monitored at 452
nm (Ahamad and Saleemullah 2007).
2.5. Determination of Vitamin C
A juice of the sample was made by using about 50 g of the
fruits and 200 ml of water by blending and sieving. 5 ml of
metaphosphoric acid/acetic acid and 2 ml of the juice were
measured into an Erlenmeyer flask and the solution was
titrated against indophenol dye.
Fig. 1. Nutrient Composition of Solanum torvum fruits.
3. Results and Discussion
The fruits of Solanum torvum possess a very high moisture
content (86.230%) as depicted in Fig 1. For the other
parameters, the results obtained indicated that carbohydrates
7.033%, proteins 2.322%, fats 0.278%, ash 0.143% and
crude fiber 3.993%. Analysis for essential metal contents (Fig
2) also gave the following results; iron 76.869mg/kg,
manganese 19.466 mg/kg, calcium 221.583 mg/kg, copper
2.642mg/kg and zinc 21.460mg/kg. In the determinations of
the vitamins, 0.078mg/100g and 2.686 mg/100g were
obtained for vitamins A and C respectively.
In a similar study conducted in India, proximate composition
analysis revealed a lower moisture percentage (80.5 %) but a
much higher ash content (12.3 %). Iron, copper and
manganese were found to be below 0.5 µg/mL (which is
equivalent to mg/kg or ppm). Calcium was the most abundant
mineral as well in that study (Bhagyashree et al. 2012).
International Journal of Chemical and Biomolecular Science Vol. 1, No. 4, 2015, pp. 222-226 225
Fig. 2. Essential metal composition of Solanum torvum fruit.
In many parts of Ghana, traditional healers usually prescribe
juice made from the fruits of Solanum torvum for the
treatment of anemia and other ailments (Asiedu-Darko 2010;
Koffuor, Amoateng, and Andey 2011). Anemia is usually
prevalent in pregnant women and also in children (WHO
2000). Different types of anemia exist. They include anemia
associated with bone marrow disease, anemia of chronic
disease, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, hemolytic
anemia and iron deficiency anemia (Al-Shawi, A., R., Obaid,
J., A., & Noor, H. 2012). Iron deficiency anemia occurs when
the concentration of elemental iron in the body decreases
significantly. Because iron plays a crucial role in hemoglobin
formation, iron shortage or deficiency results in decreased
healthy red blood cell count (Nagababu, Gulyani, and Earley
2008). A lot of blood is produced by the bodies of pregnant
women to support the development of both mother and child.
Anemia is therefore a severe complication which can have
adverse consequences for both mother and child (Al-Shawi,
A., R., Obaid, J., A., & Noor, H. 2012). The high
concentration of iron in the fruits of Solanum torvum
therefore rationalizes its prescription by herbalists for the
treatment of anemia, especially that which is due to iron
deficiency. This justifies juices made from the fruits of
Solanum torvum as hematinic agents.
Fig. 3. Vitamins content of Solanum torvum fruits.
226 Osei Akoto: Nutritional and Mineral Composition of the Fruits of Solanum torvum from Ghana
Calcium is a major dietary element needed for strong bones
and teeth formation. Zinc, copper and manganese are
regarded as trace dietary elements. Altogether, these elements
are required in various concentrations for the growth of
humans (Al-Jameil and Tabassum 2014). The fruits of
Solanum torvum represent a viable source for these essential
metals and validates it as a good nutritional source.
4. Conclusion
Solanum torvum possesses most of the nutrients required for
healthy growth and since the fruits are mostly added to food,
they help in increasing the overall nutritional content of the
consumed food. Extracts of the fruit possess high iron
content and therefore justifying their use as haematics.
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... Thus, their adequacy in a diet would help increase the supply of some nutrients that might be absent in people's regular diet [13,14]. In Africa, wild edible plants are used as food and hence contribute significantly to the nutritional needs of the people [9,15]. Solanum torvum commonly called turkey berry is one of those wild plants known to be helpful in nutrition. ...
... Our findings indicate that S. torvum contains high concentrations of Fe in both fruits and leaves. In our findings, we had more than twice higher and three and half times higher in Fe concentration in the boiled fruits and leaves of S. torvum, respectively, than what has been reported [15]. This supports the traditional belief that the consumption of S. torvum help in the management of anaemia especially in pregnant women, nursing mothers and children thus the use in food to improve health. ...
... The current study also showed that the leaves of S. torvum, either fresh or boiled contained more Fe than the fruits, making it a better source of Fe than the fruit. The high Fe content in the plant is good for the improvement of hemoglobin in the blood to prevent anemia [15,20]. This is probably the reason why traditional health practitioners use fruits and leaves of this plant to manage anemia and other ailments [15,19]. ...
Effect of Boiling on the Nutrient Composition of Solanum Torvum
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2022
The fruits and leaves of Solanum torvum are good sources of nutrients and minerals for the prevention of nutrient deficiencies. However, there is limited information on the effect of boiling on the nutrients, minerals and phytochemicals in the fruits and leaves. This study sought to assess the mineral, macronutrient and phytochemical compositions of fresh and boiled fruits and leaves of S. torvum. Fresh unripe fruit and leaf samples of S. torvum were collected from six communities, boiled, and pulverized for mineral, proximate and phytochemical analyses. The data obtained was subjected to ANOVA and t-test. Solanum torvum was found to contain Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na, K, protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, fibre, saponins, tannins, flavanols, terpenoids/steroids and glycosides making it nutritious. The results revealed almost equal concentrations of minerals in fresh and boiled leaves and fruits. A similar observation was made in the case of carbohydrate, crude fat and ash. However, there were significant differences in moisture, protein and crude fibre concentrations in the samples. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, tannin, flavonoids, terpenoids/steroids and glycosides in all leaf samples no matter the treatment. There were no flavonoids and terpenoids/steroids in fruits. Boiling nominally reduced and in a few cases, increased concentration of the nutrient composition but did not have significant effect on the concentration of the macro- and micro- minerals in the fruits and leaves. This study suggests that boiling could affects the concentration of nutrients that could be accessed in fruits and leaves of S. torvum.
View
... The fruits contain minerals like iron, manganese, calcium, copper, zinc, vitamin C and A [21]. Fruits-eaten as a vegetable and said to be good for enlargement of the spleen; fruits burnt and fume inhaled for tooth ache [4,15]. ...
... However, the taste of the berries shows bitterness but are in common use. The nutritional values of the different Solanum species mentioned as vegetable have been worked out in past [16,21,25]. The fruits of S. virginianum is said to be used as vegetable by several tribal communities in Gwalpara district of Assam and Khasi and Jayantiya hills of Meghalaya [1] however, all the nutritional parameters were yet to be studied for wild edibles. ...
Issue 1 | 1 of 6 Food Sci Nutr Res
Article
  • Nov 2022
The Genus with its 1234 species has worldwide distribution and is native to almost all continents, except several parts of Canada, Arctic and Antarctica poles. The species are widely used for vegetable and medicines. Various species of Solanum are herbs, climbers, undershrubs, shrubs and trees. From India, 64 species have been reported inclusive of cultivars, out of which 16 species possess medicinal properties. Species like Solanum lycopersicon, S. melongana, S. spirale, S. tuberosum are widely used as vegetable and other supplementary food recipes whereas in the traditional culture of Northeast India, S. nigrum, S. torvum, S. tuberosum, S. violaceum are used as vegetable with the concept of digestion and worm infestation in different names and the natives adapted the cultivation of the concern species in their kitchen gardens for self and family use. To serve the purpose, shoots of S. nigrum and berries of other species are being used whereas in Ayurvedic system of medicine, S. nigrum is described for the preparation of liver related medicines like Kakamachi Ghrit.
View
... The fruits contain minerals like iron, manganese, calcium, copper, zinc, vitamin C and A [21]. Fruits-eaten as a vegetable and said to be good for enlargement of the spleen; fruits burnt and fume inhaled for tooth ache [4,15]. ...
... However, the taste of the berries shows bitterness but are in common use. The nutritional values of the different Solanum species mentioned as vegetable have been worked out in past [16,21,25]. The fruits of S. virginianum is said to be used as vegetable by several tribal communities in Gwalpara district of Assam and Khasi and Jayantiya hills of Meghalaya [1] however, all the nutritional parameters were yet to be studied for wild edibles. ...
Issue 1 | 1 of 6 Food Sci Nutr Res
Article
  • Jan 2022
The Genus with its 1234 species has worldwide distribution and is native to almost all continents, except several parts of Canada, Arctic and Antarctica poles. The species are widely used for vegetable and medicines. Various species of Solanum are herbs, climbers, undershrubs, shrubs and trees. From India, 64 species have been reported inclusive of cultivars, out of which 16 species possess medicinal properties. Species like Solanum lycopersicon, S. melongana, S. spirale, S. tuberosum are widely used as vegetable and other supplementary food recipes whereas in the traditional culture of Northeast India, S. nigrum, S. torvum, S. tuberosum, S. violaceum are used as vegetable with the concept of digestion and worm infestation in different names and the natives adapted the cultivation of the concern species in their kitchen gardens for self and family use. To serve the purpose, shoots of S. nigrum and berries of other species are being used whereas in Ayurvedic system of medicine, S. nigrum is described for the preparation of liver related medicines like Kakamachi Ghrit.
View
... Turkey berry has been for centuries used in the treatment of a number of diseases viz. anemia, ulcer, asthma, Akoto et al., (2015), accessed the mineral and nutritional compositions of Solanum torvum fruits from Ghana and found it to contain iron (76.869mg/kg), manganese (19.466mg/kg), calcium (221.583mg/kg), copper (2.642mg/kg) and zinc (21.460mg/kg). ...
Erythropoietic, hematinic and leucocytic activities of the aqueous extracts of the fruits and leaves of Solanum torvum
Preprint
Full-text available
  • Apr 2023
The Turkey berry (Solanum torvum) plant is globally exploited for its medicinal and pharmacological benefits. This study was conducted to investigate the erythropoietic, hemanitic and leucocytic activities of the aqueous extracts of the fruits and leaves of Solanum torvum. Three groups of rabbits with five replicates each (aged 6-8 weeks) where either given the aqueous extracts of fresh turkey berry fruits, fresh turkey berry leafs, or distilled water at a dose of 0.5ml and a concentration of 100g of leaf or fruit against 100ml of distilled water (1g per 1ml of distilled water) per day over a six-week period. The rabbits were fed ad libitum with concentrate and water throughout the experimental period. A full blood count (FBC) using a BC 2600 hematology analyzer was conducted on the collected blood samples of the experimental animals at the end of the sixth week of extract administration. The blood samples of the rabbits given the aqueous extracts of the fruit and leaf of turkey berry at the end of the six weeks of treatment administration showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in red blood cell count, hemoglobin level, white blood cell count and hematocrit. The results indicated that Solanum torvum had a positive erythropoietic, hemanitic and leucocytic properties. This implies that Solanum torvum is effective in improving the quality of blood and hence can prevent some hematological disorders.
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... In addition, doctors' recommendations to alleviate iron-deficiency anemia appeared to be incomplete. They advised anemic patients to include turkey berries and cocoyam (kontomire) in their diets as these are good sources of iron [37][38][39]; however, in vivo studies have shown that turkey berry and cocoyam have poor iron bioavailability due to their high content of anti-nutritional factors (such as phytates, oxalates). Their consumption is therefore not very effective in combating irondeficiency unless consumed with non-heme iron absorption enhancers such as Vitamin C, which doctors did not promote [40]. ...
Factors influencing women’s acceptance of palm weevil larvae for consumption in peri-urban communities in the Ashanti region, Ghana
Article
Full-text available
For Ghanaian women of reproductive age (WRA), anemia remains a pressing issue. Currently, at the global level, anemia affects 35% of this population according to the most recent “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report. In Ghana, anemia is mostly associated with iron deficiency and, if left untreated, could result in several adverse outcomes including severe fatigue and exhaustion resulting in decreased work productivity, neurocognitive impairment, and complications with chronic kidney disease. Various strategies can effectively reduce iron-deficiency anemia at the population level, including food fortification, supplementation, and dietary improvement. Unfortunately, these have failed to reach Ghanaian women adequately and equitably, resulting in many not meeting their nutritional needs. As an alternative strategy to curtail iron deficiency, edible insects, such as palm weevil larvae, have been suggested for their nutritional benefits, cost-effective rearing, and yearly availability. As such, popularizing their consumption could present an opportunity to improve WRA’s iron status in Ghana. To assess the feasibility of this strategy, formative research is needed to examine local attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs associated with the consumption of palm weevil larvae. Formative research was conducted in five peri-urban communities in the Ashanti region of Ghana that were purposefully selected for the study. These communities were separated into two clusters based on their access to palm trees. The analysis was based on 12 focus group discussions conducted with 121 female respondents, at which point data saturation was reached. Thematic analysis was used to examine the facilitators and barriers to palm weevil larvae consumption as well as WRA’s general knowledge of nutrition and anemia. Women generally had favorable perceptions of palm weevil larvae as a nutritious food in its raw, frozen, and processed forms, and were eager to be involved in its value chain. The factors positively influencing the acceptance of palm weevil larvae were its perceived nutritional and health benefits, and its taste. The main barriers to its consumption in all communities were its scarcity, difficult and inconsistent access, and fear of unauthenticity and unsafety. Finally, despite women’s general awareness of the importance of iron, persistent misinformation by health-professionals undermined their perceived seriousness of iron-deficiency anemia. Women’s clear interest in palm weevil larvae is encouraging for the community-based domestication of palm weevil larvae. Future studies should examine the feasibility and logistical requirements of such a strategy and its impact on increasing the consumption of palm weevil larvae. Key words: formative research, palm weevil larvae, edible insects, food fortification, anemia
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... Solanum torvum Schltdl Chichoradi Fruits Fruits contain carbohydrates of 7.033%, protein of 2.322%, fat of 0.278%, ash of 0.143%, and crude fiber of 3.993%, and essential minerals [34,35] 17 ...
Ethnic recipes from the tribes of Jawhar and Shahapur forest division: Maharashtra, India
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2022
BACKGROUND: Tribals have developed their tradition of the food system by using native plants having nutritional as well as medicinal values. Different parts of wild edible plants are consumed by them in various forms such as curry, pickles, fried, etc. Such knowledge is applied to cope with starvation and survive in unfavorable conditions. But this valuable information is not preserved well by the next generation. Therefore, there is a need to systematically record such unexplored traditional knowledge for further detailed study. Present study aimed to document and record wild edible plants and details of the recipes prepared by the tribal of Jawhar and Shahapur forest division. METHODS: A Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey was carried out in Jawhar and Shahapur forest divisions of Maharashtra during the year 2018–19. The study includes the documentation of the traditionally used edible plants by the ethnic group of people in the studied area and is presented systematically. RESULT: A total of 34 recipes prepared from 32 different species were described in detail. Out of 32 species, 28 species are wild and only four species are cultivated on the farm or yard. Ten recipes using leaves (fresh and dried), six using fruits, five using flowers, six using tubers (dry and curry of Dioscorea bulbifera L.), four using pods, two using seeds, and one recipe using shoot are reported, which are not familiar in the urban areas. The use of ash for the processing of Dioscorea species to make it more palatable was found as a unique method. CONCLUSION: Vegetable recipes of nine species were reported as noteworthy after validating from the available literature. Further investigation of collected data from the perspective of their phytochemical and nutraceutical studies may provide better nutritional and medicinal sources for the future.
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... Fruits are used for food, and they are known to be rich in minerals such as Ca. Indeed, a 100 g portion of Turkey berry fruit contains almost 10% of the RDI of Ca for adults (Akoto, Borquaye, & Howard, 2015). Notably, S. torvum is the species from the genus Solanum with the highest content in Ca described in this chapter. ...
The powerful Solanaceae: Food and nutraceutical applications in a sustainable world
Chapter
The Solanaceae family is considered one of the most important families among plant species because, on one hand encompasses many staple food crops of the human diet while, on the other hand, it includes species rich in powerful secondary metabolites that could be valorized in medicine or drug formulation as well as nutraceuticals and food supplements. The main genera are Solanum, Capsicum, Physalis, and Lycium which comprise several important cultivated crops (e.g., tomato, pepper, eggplant, tomatillo, and goji berry), as well as genera notable for species with several pharmaceutical properties (e.g., Datura, Nicotiana, Atropa, Mandragora, etc.). This chapter discusses the nutritional value of the most important Solanaceae species commonly used for their edible fruit, as well as those used in the development of functional foods, food supplements, and nutraceuticals due to their bioactive constituents. The toxic and poisonous effects are also discussed aiming to highlight possible detrimental consequences due to irrational use. Finally, considering the high amount of waste and by-products generated through the value chain of the main crops, the sustainable management practices implemented so far are presented with the aim to increase the added-value of these crops.
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... Pharmacological studies on S. torvum have shown that the stem, root, leaves and fruits of S. torvum have anti-bacterial, anti-tumour, anti-viral, analgesic, antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, immunosecretory, antiulcerogenic activities [20][21][22][23] . As the fruits of S. torvum are rich in minerals, traditionally they have been used to treat cough, anemia and conditions such as liver and spleen enlargement [24,25] . ...
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Nutritional, anti-nutritional and morphological characterization of wild edible species of Solanum found in North East India
Preprint
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  • Jul 2023
The outcome of this study shows that S . species are considerably variate in nutritional, anti-nutritional and morphological characters. Maximum plant height (161.16±5.67 cm) and number of flowers per inflorescence (12.49±1.55) was obtained from S. torvum while S. nigrum attained minimum fruit length (6.08±0.43 mm) and girth (6.48±0.55 mm). Among all the berries, S. macrocarpon has wider girth than length. So, it perceived maximal fruit girth (73.65±0.65 mm) and lowest number of flowers per inflorescence (2.04±0.43). Being a short period plant, S. nigrum also recorded least number of days to first flowering (19.94±3.63) and no. of days taken for fruit development (31.27±2.99). Regarding nutritional composition, highest amount of total carbohydrates (47.44±1.75 mg/g) and starch (8.76±0.16 mg/g) was recorded in S. macrocarpon whereas it has least value of cellulose (0.75±0.007 mg/g). S . ferox achieved maximal amount of total sugar (7.33±0.78 mg/g) and reducing sugar (3.86±0.40 mg/g). Likewise, S. spirale recorded minimum amount of total sugar (2.37±0.12 mg/g) and reducing sugar (0.23±0.03 mg/g) while S. torvum obtained highest quantity of cellulose (2.04±0.08 mg/g). Total soluble protein was observed from S. villosum with an amount of 1.54±0.03 mg/g whereas S. gilo (white) obtained lowest 0.74±0.03 mg/g soluble protein. As for anti-nutritional highest quantity of phytic acid was recorded in S. spirale (5.34 ±0.18 mg/g) while least amount was obtained from S. ferox (0.72 ±0.01 mg/g). However, maximal amount of cyanogen i.e., 54.24 ±0.59 µg/g was attained from S. violaceum (spineless) and lowest quantity of cyanogen at 12.72 ±0.56 µg/g was recorded in S. gilo (green).
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Types of indigenous vegetables consumed, preparation, preferences and perceived benefits in Ghana
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2022
Indigenous vegetables (IVs) are rich sources of essential nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals, and other non-nutritive phytochemicals. IVs play a critical role in the food culture of the Ghanaian people. Despite their importance, they have over the years been mostly associated with the resource-poor. In this study, the types of IVs, preparation preferences, frequency of consumption and some perceived benefits ascribed by some Ghanaian consumers ( n = 1393) were investigated in a cross-sectional survey. Descriptive analysis and a chi-square test of independence were conducted to summarise and determine the relationship between gender, age and consumption frequency of the IVs. The study identified okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ), cocoyam ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ) leaves, jute mallow ( Corchorus olitorius ) and garden egg ( Solanum melongena ) as the popular IVs consumed by respondents. Among these, about 13.3% of women and 15.3% of men indicated they consume okra. Eight per cent of the women respondents and 6.7% of the men consumed jute mallow. Almost 57% of the respondents said the IVs were used to prepare stew and soup. More than a third (39%) of the respondents indicated that they consumed the IVs either daily or more than once a week. Women respondents’ frequency of IVs consumption was significantly different [ X ² (4, n = 1393) = 30.11, p = 0.000] from the men. The frequency of consumption of IVs for the elderly was significantly higher [ X ² (12, n = 1393) = 30.53, p = 0.002] as compared to the younger respondents. The main perceived benefits of IVs were nutrition- and health-related. The major barriers to the consumption of IVs were cost, non-availability, palatability and cultural. The IVs were largely wet-cooked and consumed as stews or sauces and soups. These findings form good bases for further empirical studies on the nutritional and other health-benefiting attributes of the specific IVs found in this study for sustainable promotion and utilisation in Ghana.
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• Study the incidence and types of Anemia in Pregnant Women in Baghdad Province .
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2018
Abstract: Four hundred twenty six (426) pregnant women were tested for the diagnosis of anemia and its types. The study was done in AL-Alwaya hospital for birth in Baghdad province. The study showed two hundred thirty six (236) pregnant women effected with anemia at percentage (55.4%) as follow: first trimester (1-3 months) 46 cases (10.8%), second trimester (4-6 months) 69 cases (16.2%), third trimester (7-9 months) 121cases (28.4%).Also the result showed the percentage of anemia between pregnant women who take prophylactic drugs (iron. Folic acid, vit.B12) was (21.8%) lower than pregnant women who not take it (33.6%).The percentage of anemia between women who primigravida (9.6%), lower than pregnant women multipart gravid (45.8%). The forms of anemia in this study was between mild, moderate to severe anemia, the most type of anemia was mild anemia (35.5%) followed by in less degree moderate anemia (15.7%), then severe anemia(4.2%).The most common type of anemia is microcytic & hypochromic anemia.
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Phytochemical evaluation of three species of solanum L.
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2013
The identification of primary and secondary constituents has become the utmost important tool to know the active principles of various medicinal plants. The present study was aimed at identification and evaluation of certain phytochemicals of therapeutic importance in Solanum torvum, Solanum trilobatum and Solanum xanthocarpum of the genus Solanum L., used in folk and traditional medicine to cure respiratory disorders especially bronchial asthma. The five different aqueous and organic (chloroform, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol and methanol) extracts of the leaves, flowers and fruits were used for identification of phytochemical constituents. The analysis revealed the presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Further, some of these phytochemicals were quantitatively estimated.
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Analysis of serum trace elements-copper, manganese and zinc in preeclamptic pregnant women by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry: A prospective case controlled study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Article
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Preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of all pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and pre-term delivery in world. In concern to the increasing number of preeclamptic cases and lack of data about the interrelation between levels of trace elements and preeclampsia, we conducted a hospital based case-control study to assess the risk of preeclampsia in relation to concentrations of trace elements like copper, manganese and zinc in a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study consisted of 120 pregnant women divided into three groups of 40 each - control, HR group and the PET group. The serum levels of Cu, Mn and Zn were estimated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Analysis of trace elements revealed that mean values of Cu, Mn and Zn were 2.01 ± 0.43, 0.125 ± 0.07 and 1.30 ± 0.83 mg/L respectively in control. In preeclamptic group, the mean values of Cu, Mn and Zn were 1.554 ± 0.53, 0.072 ± 0.06 and 0.67 ± 0.59 mg/L respectively. Levels of Cu and Zn were found to decrease significantly (P < 0.001) in preeclamptic group compared to control. Pearsons correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between levels of Cu, Mn and Zn and systolic blood pressure. However the correlation of Cu, Mn and Zn with maternal age, gestational age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was statistically insignificant. In conclusion, our study suggests that preeclamptic patients have considerably lower levels of Cu, Mn and Zn compared to control and reduction in serum levels of copper, manganese, and zinc during pregnancy might be possible contributors in etiology of preeclampsia.
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Determination of beta carotene content in fresh vegetables using high performance liquid chromatography
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2007
A study was conducted during 2005, at Department of Agricultural Chemistry, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar Pakistan. Composite samples of twenty different kinds of vegetables available were collected from local markets of Peshawar and analyzed for their β-carotene content using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result indicated that the minimum content (>80μg/100g) was found in potato, mushroom and mountain ebony and the highest amount (<80μg/100g) in lettuce, spinach and carrot. The result in conformity with other workers clearly reflected the food value of vegetables. It was concluded that besides, major nutrients, vegetables also contributes fairly good amount of micro nutrients (vitamin A from carotenes). Hence it is suggested that green leafy vegetables and carrot should be used in our daily food menu.
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Immunomodulatory and erythropoietic effects of aqueous extract of the fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz (Solanaceae)
Article
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  • Apr 2011
The effect of Solanum torvum (Fam: Solanaceae) on delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titer, white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin concentration was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats to establish immunomodulatory and erythropoietic activity. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-immunized and challenged rats were treated with Solanum torvum extract, levamisole and dexamethasone. Phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anemia in rats was treated with the extract. The aqueous Solanum torvum extract and levamisole significantly enhanced DTH response, increased HA titer and WBC count, while dexamethasone significantly decreased DTH response, did not increase HA titer, and did not enhance WBC profile. The extract and Feroglobin, the reference heamatinic, were able to reverse PHZ-induced anemia, and increase the RBCs and Hb concentration above baseline values within 24 days. Solanum torvum extract showed a concentration-dependent immunostimulant and erythropoietic activity.
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Iron-Deficiency Anemia Enhances Red Blood Cell Oxidative Stress
Article
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Oxidative stress associated with iron deficiency anaemia in a murine model was studied feeding an iron-deficient diet. Anaemia was monitored by a decrease in hematocrit and haemoglobin. For the 9 week study an increase in total iron binding capacity was also demonstrated. Anaemia resulted in an increase in red blood cells (RBC) oxidative stress as indicated by increased levels of fluorescent heme degradation products (1.24-fold after 5 weeks; 2.1-fold after 9 weeks). The increase in oxidative stress was further confirmed by elevated levels of methemoglobin for mice fed an iron-deficient diet. Increased haemoglobin autoxidation and subsequent generation of ROS can account for the shorter RBC lifespan and other pathological changes associated with iron-deficiency anaemia.
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Protective effect of Solanum torvum against testicular toxicity in male wistar rats
Article
  • Jan 2012
Oxidative stress is the main factor in Doxorubicin (DXR) induced toxicity. Rats received either DXR (3 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 or Solanum torvum extract (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) prior to DXR or S. torvum (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) extract alone for 4 weeks. Testicular toxicity was assessed by recording changes in body weight, testis weight, epididymal sperm count and measuring the levels of marker enzymes- LDH, SGOT and CK-NAC; antioxidant defence enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH; membrane bound enzymes such as Na+ K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase and Mg 2+ ATPase; total proteins and histopathological changes. S. torvum (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) reversed the changes induced by DXR and showed a lesser degree of cellular infiltration in histopathological studies. The results suggest that S. torvum has the potential in preventing the testicular toxicity induced by Doxorubicin.
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