Identification and nutritional importance of indigenous green leaf vegetables in Kenya.

Abstract

Species identified include Amaranthus hybridus [cruentus], Crotalaria brevidens, Solanum nigrum, Gynandropsis gynandra and Erucastrum arabicum. They normally grow wild in most parts of Kenya and the leaves are used as vegetables. The carotene content of the leaves exceeded 7000 μg/100 g fresh weight. S. nigrum and G. gynandra leaf ascorbic acid contents were as high as 144 and 131 mg/100 g, respectively. Fe content in S. nigrum, G. gynandra and A. hybridus leaves was about 10 mg/100 g, and the Ca contents 291, 251 and 480 mg/100 g, respectively. Protein contents in the leaves of these plants ranged between 28 and 36% dry weight.