Evaluation of Chemical Properties and Mineral Composition of Powdered and Dried Leaves of Baobab in Bauchi Metropolis

Abstract

The evaluation of some chemical properties and mineral composition (proximate chemical analysis) of Baobab leaves (Adansonia digita) collected from Muda Lawal market were analyzed at the soil science laboratory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi using flame photometric and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the concentration of crude protein ranged from 1.44-1.63 with CV of 5.7 % and that of crude fibre range from 0.81-0.97 and CV 12.7 %. The chemical composition showed that ash ranged from 1.48-1.65 with CV of 7.7; Ca from 2.51-2.63 with CV 3.91 %; K from 0.71-0.19 with CV of 7.86 % and Na from 007-0.08 with CV 9.42 %. Based on the results obtained there were no significance (p= 0.05) difference between the powdered and dried leaves, since all the parameters observed had coefficient of variation less than 15 %. Therefore, people can consume any of the two forms of baobab leaves.