Secondary Metabolites, Antioxidant Status and Nutritive Composition of Two Non-Conventional Leafy Vegetables - Stellaria media L. and Chenopodium album L.

Two non-conventional leafy vegetables, Stellaria media and Chenopodium album were analyzed for proximate composition, minerals, secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities. The two plants contained moisture in the range of 78.5 to 81%, acidity from 0.05 to 0.10%, ascorbic acid from 12.34 to 22.20mg/100g, crude fat from 0.76 to 2.18%, crude fibre from 112.0 to 15%, crude protein from 2.3 to 3.9%, crude carbohydrate from 74.52 to 80.34%, total ash from 3.0 to 4% and gross energy yield from 334.63 to 343.80 kJ/100DM. Stellaria media contained 25.38, 22.65, 24.54 and 4.30 mg/g whereas Chenopodium album contained 15.39, 8.15, 26.54 and 4.33mg/g total sugar, reducing sugar, free amino acids and total soluble phenols, respectively. The mineral composition of the two plants in mg per 100g varied from 288 to 792 in calcium, 5500 to 8597 in potassium, 265 to 324 in magnesium, 118 to 166 in sulphur and 607 to 637 in phosphorus in respect of major elements whereas 47 to 66 in iron, 3 to 7 in zinc, 1 to 19 in manganese and 4 to 8 mg/100g in copper in respect of the minor elements. The two plants also contained 12.03 and 18.65 mg flavonoids, 18.05 and 44.67 mg tannins and 23.84 and 35.57 mg saponins per g, respectively. Chenopodium had higher flavonoid and saponin contents over Stellaria media. However, tannin content was higher in Stellaria media (44.67mg/g) than Chenopodium album (18.05mg/g). The two plants showed antioxidant activities. The IC₅₀ of Stellaria media (208.5µg/ml) and Chenopodium album (206µg/ml) were very high (less activity) as compared to the references viz; vitamin C (15.1µg/ml) and quercetin (6.45µg/ml). Mineral content in leaves of Stellaria media appeared to be sufficient to meet the daily requirement of human beings.