Proximate Composition and Mineral Contents of Ocimum Gratissimum Leaves (African Basil)

Abstract

The proximate composition and mineral contents of Ocimum gratissimum leaves were investigated. The freshly harvested Ocimum gratissimum leaves were de-stalked, sorted, washed with potable water, air dried at 28⁰C for 14 days, milled into fine powder with an Apex mill and packed into low density Polyethylene film with 75-micron thickness prisor analysis. The proximate analysis showed the moisture, crude, protein, total ash, crude fiber, crude lipid and total carbohydrate contents were 10.72±0.01%, 12.98±0.10%, 10.95±0.42, 10.21±0.04%, 4.81±0.04% and 49.01±0.25% respectively. The percentage mineral contents were Potassium 79.60±0.40mg/100g, Calcium 59.14±0.41mg/100g, Magnesium 82.31±0.06mg/100g, Sodium 24.06±0.17 and Zinc 14.41±0.16. The results of the analysis showed that Ocimum gratissimum could be a good source of important food nutrients.