VARIATION IN BIOACTIVE, NUTRIENT, AND ANTI-NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM PLANT PARTS

Gongronema latifolium is an important edible plant in West Africa; however, comparative compositional data across its edible parts remain scarce. This study evaluated the phytochemical, proximate, mineral, and vitamin composition of dried leaves, seeds, and fruit of G. latifolium. Phytochemicals were quantified using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), proximate composition was determined with standard AOAC methods, and minerals and vitamins were analyzed using established spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques. Data were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed via one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). The results showed significant variation across the different plant parts. G. latifolium leaves contained higher levels of kaempferol (22.32 μg/ml) and flavones (17.57 μg/ml), whereas G. latifolium seeds exhibited greater phenolic content (22.20 μg/ml) and quercetin (15.49 μg/ml). G. latifolium fruit was richer in protein (26.53%), fat (5.09%), and moisture (6.72%), while leaves had higher crude fiber (26.82%) and ash (13.66%). Calcium and potassium were more abundant in seeds, whereas magnesium and sodium were higher in leaves. Vitamin C (205.20 mg/100 g), carotenoids (46.45 mg/100 g), and B vitamins (notably B3 and B6) were more abundant in leaves, while seeds contained higher vitamin E (6.21 mg/g) and B1. Anti-nutritional factors such as phytate and oxalate were present at varying concentrations across plant parts. These findings demonstrate organ-specific biochemical distributions in G. latifolium, highlighting complementary nutritional properties among leaves, fruits, and seeds and providing updated compositional data for future nutritional and functional studies.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62838/abmj-2026-0003