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ESTIMATION OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND TRACE ELEMENTS CONTENT OF CARTHAMUS OXYACANTHA, ERUCA SATIVA AND PLANTAGO OVATA

ELLAHI BUKHSH¹, SALMAN AKBAR MALIK¹ AND SHEIKH SAEED AHMAD^2*

Abstract: Carthamus oxyacantha, Eruca sativa and Plantago ovata of the families Asteraceae, Cruciferrae and Plantaginaceae respectively are used by the local Tabibs (physicians) as medicinal plants to cure different diseases. In our present studies these plants were found to possess some medicinal properties including antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic, antinephrolithiatic and hepatoprotective. In the present study estimation of nutritional value and trace element content of these plants were investigated. Different known standard techniques (Kjeldhal method, Lowery s^, method and atomic absorption spectrophotometer) were used to estimate the nutritional value and trace element content. Results showed that crude proteins, total proteins in seeds and total carbohydrates in leaves are significantly higher in E. sativa as compared to C. oxyacantha and P. ovata. The amount of total fats is significantly higher in seeds of C. oxyacantha as compared to E. sativa and P. ovata. While the concentration of crude fiber is significantly higher in seeds of P. ovata as compared to the seeds and leaves of both E. sativa and C. oxyacantha. Major trace elements include Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cr, Zn, Mo, P, K, Na and Ca.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, ²Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.