Determination of macro and micronutrients and nutritional prospects of six vegetable species of Mardan,Pakistan

This study was carried out to assess the nutritional and mineral composition of selected vegetables,which are commonly used as food in pakistan. abelmoschus esculentus,solanum melongena,cucurbita moschata,allium sativum,momordica charantia and portulaca oleracea were collected form mardan (pakistan) and subjected to nutrient analysis. nutrient analysis (total proteins,fats,carbohydrates,ash,energy value and moisture contents) of vegetable species were determined according to aoac methods. macro viz. calcium (ca),magnesium (mg),potassium (k),sodium (na),and phosphorus (p) and micro viz. iron (fe),zinc (zn),manganese (mn),copper (cu),nickel (ni) and selenium (se) elements were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometric method. the moisture (wet and dry basis),ash,fats,fibers,proteins,energy value (305.9-382.6 kcal/100g) and carbohydrates of these vegetable species were found in the range of 62.9-92.7,5.4-7.7,3.1-23.1,0.3-8.3,10.2-22.5,7.7-16.9,and 51.3-80.2% respectively. the micronutrients including fe,zn,mn,and cu were found to be in the range,6.2-24.1,0.2-11.7,0.6-16.7,and 0.1-70 ppm respectively. the results of macronutrients obtained having values of ca (90-1850 ppm),mg (94-571 ppm),k (2078-4010 ppm),na (2-170 ppm),and p (250-1532 ppm) respectively. the quantity of ni and se were found negligible in these vegetables. the results indicate that all these vegetables have the potential to provide essential nutrients to the human beings. momordica charantia and allium sativum were found to be a good source of proteins,fats,carbohydrates,hence capable of providing energy to the consumer. both these species were found significantly useful in terms of minerals sources,particularly ni,k,p,zn,cu,and mn.