Nutrient composition of three Nigerian medicinal plants

The leaves of three Nigerian medicinal plants, Chromolina oduratum, Ipomoea aserifolia and Emilia santifolia, were analysed for their nutritional contents, including crude protein, fat, carbohydrate and minerals. C. oduratum and I. aserifolia were found to have appreciable amounts of crude protein in addition to high calcium and potassium contents. The levels of lead, oxalates and phytates in the plant samples are low compared to recommended maxima for these toxicants. The high levels of these nutrients together with the low levels of toxicity of the leaves make these plants useful as supplements in human and animal diets.