The Phytochemical, Proximate and Mineral Contents of Cassava Leaves and Nutritive Values of Associated Arthropod Pests

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the most important staple food crops grown in Nigeria.This study investigated the following; (1) the nutritive values of insect pests associated withcassava leaves (2) phytochemical, mineral, and proximate content of cassava leaves (3) theantimicrobial activities of cassava leaves. Phytochemicals (Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannin,phytate, oxalate, phenol, and cyanogenic glycosides), proximate (ash, moisture, crude fiber, crudeprotein, crude fats), mineral (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Mn, Na) and vitamin contents of sampleswere analyzed using the method of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Results showed highamounts of crude protein, crude fat, moisture content, carbohydrate, and mineral content in allarthropod insects examined. The highest quantity of Ca (1152.84±0.67 mg/100g) was obtained inABF4, followed by ABF5 (1148.72±1.09 mg/kg). The lowest phenol content of 0.10±0.00 ppm wasobtained in the cassava branch. The leaf recorded the highest phenol value of 0.74±0.01 ppm. Thehighest alkaloid value was 3.51±2.45 ppm in Manihot esculenta branch. The highest crude proteinand crude fat values of 3.41±0.13 % and 4.83±0.02 % were obtained in ABF5. Vitamin C wasfound in very high quantities compared to the other types of vitamins examined in this work. Thehighest Vitamin C content of 34.930±0.136 mg/100 g was obtained. Cassava leaves and thearthropod pests are good sources of nutrients. Cassava leaves could also be used as anantimicrobial agent.