Asian Journal of Food Research and Nutrition

Aims: Unbalanced minerals intakes contribute to malnutrition status for children aged under five years. Research to select vegetables with high minerals content is needed in low-income country like Burkina Faso. The aim of this study is to determine the minerals content of Cleome gynandra and Allium cepa leaves grown in Burkina Faso.

Methods: The leaves of these plants have been purchased in three markets of Ouagadougou. After drying in laboratory at 25 °C, the samples have been used for minerals analyses (calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphor, sodium, iron and zinc). To determine the minerals content, atomic absorption spectrophotometer and flam photometer methods have been used.

Results: The two vegetables had high content in calcium, potassium, phosphor and magnesium. For Cleome gynandra leaves, the mean content were 2555; 1178; 441; 347 mg/100 g respectively for calcium, potassium, phosphor and magnesium. For iron and zinc as traces element, significant content were found with 53 and 5 mg/100 g, respectively. For Allium cepa leaves, the mean content in these minerals were also high with 881; 2657; 324; 204 mg/100 g, respectively. iron and zinc content were also in significant levels with 81 and 4 mg/100 g, respectively. The mean content in calcium, phosphor, magnesium, sodium, iron and zinc of Cleome gynandra leaves were highest compared to Alium cepa leaves.

Conclusion: This study showed that Cleome gynandra and Allium cepa are excellent sources of minerals. Promote the high consumption of these two vegetables will contribute to solve children micronutrients deficiencies and malnutrition problems.