Nutrient composition of the leaves and flowers of Colocasia esculenta and the fruits of Solanum melongena.

The nutrient composition, of Colocasia esculenta flowers (CF) and leaves (CL), and the green fruits of Solanum melongena (SM) were carried out as a means to determine their nutritional potential. Results showed that these food materials had high moisture and fiber levels which ranged between 888 and 906 g.kg-1; and 204 and 303 g.kg-1 dry weight (dw) for moisture and fiber respectively. The calorific values were between 3889 and 4001 kcals.kg-1 dw, while the total lipids ranged from 53 in CF to 71 g.kg-1 dw in SM. The leaves of Colocasia esculenta had the highest crude protein value of 307 g.kg-1 dw. The flowers had 149 g.kg-1 dw while SM had 138 g.kg-1 dw. The amino acid profile in the flowers and leaves of Colocasia esculenta in contrast to SM were balanced comparable to the reference FAO pattern. Ash values were high (ranging from 76 in SM to 98 g.kg-1 in CL) with potassium being the principal element. Iron and Zinc levels were also high especially in CF (with 303 and 82 mg.kg-1 dw respectively). These foods also contained moderate quantities of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium but were poor in manganese and copper.