NUTRITIONAL AND CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF SOLANUMINCANUM (BITTER GARDEN EGG)

Objectives: Solanumincanum was evaluated for its nutritional and chemical values using standard analytical methods.forits proximate composition, phytonutrient components, vitamin and mineral constituents. The result showed that Solanumincanum has high moisture content (91.4 ± 0.56%). The concentration of estimated crude protein and available carbohydrate were 8.31 ± 0.63 and 51.74% respectively. It also had high ash (21.2 ± 0.42%) and crude lipid (12.53 ± 0.74%) contents, while its crude fibre (6.22 ± 0.36) and caloric values (308.9Kcal/100g) were low. The study revealed the presence of bioactive constituents comprising saponin (14.4%), alkaloid (0.6%), flavonoid (26.7%), oxalate (2295mg/100g) and cyanogenic glycoside (5.71 mg/100g). Solanumincanum contained vitamins such as riboflavin, ascorbic acid and tocopherol. The results of the mineral composition per 100 g (DW) were as follows: P (1085.00 mg), Mg (39.14 mg), K (216.89 mg), Mn (147.78 mg), Cu (256.17 mg), Na (149.34 mg), Fe (326.50 mg) and Ca (15.29 mg). The significance of the findings is thus discussed.