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Pak. J. Bot., 45(6): 2071-2074, 2013. |
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Updated: 12-11-13 | ||||
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QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMONLY USED VEGETABLES IN USTERZAI OF KOHAT REGION
JAVID HUSSAIN1,2*, NAJEEB UR REHMAN2, ZABTA KHAN SHINWARI3, LIAQAT ALI2, AHMED AL-HARRASI2, ABDUL LATIF KHAN1,2, AND FAZAL MABOOD2
Abstract: The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the proximate composition and elemental analysis of important leafy (Malva sylvestris, Eruca sativa, and Mentha sylvestris) and fleshy (Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea var. botyris, and Raphanus sativus) vegetables, which are commonly used in the rural areas of Usterzai (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Pakistan). The proximate parameters (moisture, fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash and crude fiber) were evaluated by using AOAC methods whereas elemental analyses were carried-out by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that R. sativus had highest moisture contents (15.46 ± 0.16%). The ash and protein contents were highest in M. sylvestris (18.48 ± 0.01% and 16.16 ± 0.32% respectively). E. sativa has highest fiber (14.64 ± 0.24%) contents while B. oleracaea had highest carbohydrate (86.22 ± 0.54%) and energy values (354.17±0.54 Kcal/100g). In case of micro and macro nutrient concentrations, the R. sativus had highest iron (13.03 ± 0.14), copper (9.96 ± 0.16), manganese (0.79 ± 0.01), cadmium (0.21 ± 0.01) and lead (0.44 ± 0.02) while E. sativa had highest magnesium (25.65 ± 0.21) and M. sylvestris had highest sodium (81.04 ± 0.17) concentrations. In conclusion, the present support the results that B. oleracaea and R. sativus are active in nutritional qualities. Thus, toxic elements such as cadmium and lead are negligible in concentrations making these vegetables more healthful to the local people.
1Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, 26000, Pakistan 2Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al-Mouz, Nizwa 616, Sultanate of Oman 3Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan *Corresponding authors: javidhej@yahoo.com |
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