HEALTH-PROMOTING NUTRITIONAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED VEGETABLES FROM BANNU DIVISION, KPK, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Five vegetable species Cucurbita pepo, Capsicum annum, Solanum melongena, Abelmoschus esculentus and Spinacia oleraceae were assessed for their nutritional intensity using standard techniques for nutrient composition and trace element analysis. In proximate analysis, ash, moisture, fat, fiber, protein and carbohydrates were evaluated while Ca, Na, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Co, Cd, Cr and Fe were appraised in micronutrients analysis using AOAC methods and atomic absorption spectrometric techniques. The species shown variable results in case of proximate analysis, however, Cucurbita moschata have revealed higher percentage of carbohydrate, fiber, and energy values