Nutritional and antinutritional factors of underutilized Boerhavia diffusa Leaves grown in Northern India

The nutritional profile of the underutilized leaves of Boerhavia diffusa was determined using standard methods. Proximate composition and antinutritional factors were determined and found that leaves contain 88.48±0.27 g moisture, 2.4±0.07 g total ash, 1.45±0.09 g crude protein, 1.12±0.009 g fat, 0.97±0.03 g crude fibre per 100g of dry matter. Total carbohydrate content was 5.51±0.56 g while calorific value calculated 38±1.46 kcals per 100g. Mineral contents were found as 20.02±0.31 mg iron, 250.6±2.17 mg calcium per 100g of leaves. Vitamin C and β-carotene were found 38.0 mg and 4400±47.1 μg per 100g of dry leaves. Based on analytical study of underutilized B. diffusa leaves was found to contain good source of Ca, Fe, fibre, protein which can be incorporated in human diet to meet the demand of recommended dietary allowances specially in rural areas where it is obtained abundantly. B. diffusa also contain antinutritional factors like phytate 10.5±0.12mg and oxalate 11.73±1.13 mg/100g which are lesser in amount as per RDA.