PROXIMATE, MINERAL AND ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS CONTENTS OF (Petroselinum crispum)LEAVES (PARSLEY)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The plant Petroselinum Crispum was analyzed to establish its proximate compositions, vitamin C and E content and minerals content (Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe) as part of an on-going screening process for plant constituents of nutritional and economic significance. Proximate composition showed that the Parsley leaves have ash content of 25 ± 5, moisture content 98 ± 0.5,fibre 1.5 ± 0.5, lipid 10 ± 54.8, protein 32.81 ± 0.22 and carbohydrate 50.69, as well as vitamins content, vitamin C 22.6 ± 0.15 and vitamin E 37.5 ± 3.6. Mineral contents, Chromium (Cr) 0.1288 ± 0.0337, Copper (Cu) 0.2258 ± 0.0017, Zinc (Zn) 0.96 ± 0.00297 and Iron (Fe) 0.63123 ± 0.06731. It is known that individual vitamins can be analysed by spectrophotometer with the wavelength of (700nm) for vitamin C and (539nm) for vitamin E, and so also the individual minerals Cr, Cu, Zn and Fe contents of the sample were determined at Zn(213.9nm), Fe(248.3nm), Cu(324.8nm) and Cr(357.9nm) respectively, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), the plant Petroselium Crispum can be used as vegetable, and also for garnishing of food.