Proximate, Vitamins, Minerals and Anti-Nutritive Constituents of the Leaf and Stem of Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet: A Folk Medicinal Plant in South Africa

Abstract

Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet (Asteraceae) is a perennial shrub used in South African folk medicine to combat human diseases such as diabetes, coughs, asthma, and diarrhoea, and for wound treatment. This study evaluated the leaf and stem of H. odoratissimum for their nutritive and anti-nutritive qualities using the standard methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and colorimetry. Crude fat and protein were high in the leaf (7.61% and 7.82% DW), but low in the stem (2.25% and 3.4%), respectively. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was significantly higher in the stem (68.5%) compared to the leaf (43.6%), while non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) in the leaf (24.93%) was higher than in the stem (15.67%). Mineral analysis showed that both the leaf and stem of H. odoratissimum are good sources of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Appreciable amounts of vitamins B2, C and E in the leaf and stem supports the folkloric utility of the plant in the traditional treatment of wounds, coughs and colds. A tolerable amount of phytate in both leaf (0.36%) and stem (1.06%) might be a factor for safer consumption of the plant as food and medicine. These findings suggest the use of the plant as a source for dietary supplementation and ethnomedicinal applications.

Nutritional Composition and Phytochemical Evaluation of Some Selected Wild Edible Plants in Tach Gaint District, Northwestern Ethiopia

“…Rumex abyssinicus , due to its relatively high fibre content, may enhance digestion, promote peristaltic motion, and lessen constipation. Some diseases linked to metabolic abnormalities may be less common as a result of a high-fibre diet [ 28 ]. Figure 1 displays the mineral composition of the plant parts that can be eaten.…”

Chemical Analysis of Various Tea Samples Concerning Volatile Compounds, Fatty Acids, Minerals and Assessment of Their Thermal Behavior

“…Minerals play key roles in the body, from building strong bones to transmitting nerve impulses for a healthy and lengthy life [ 58 ]. Na, K, and Mg are involved in the body’s control, treatment, and management of various metabolic and heart disorders, while Ca is associated with healthy bones and teeth, although it plays an important role in maintaining extracellular fluids, blood clotting, and muscle contraction [ 59 ]. Phosphorus has a critical role in metabolism and growth, whereas Fe is a crucial element in living systems, being involved in the biosynthesis of hemoglobin in erythrocytes and the physiology of oxygen transportation [ 58 ].…”

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Plant Extracts from Aromatic Plants Cultivated in Cyprus

“…Briefly, MDA-MB231, HeLa, SKOV3, HT-29, and HCT-116 cells were seeded in triplicate in 96-well plates at a density of 10 4 cells/well. Twenty-four (24) hours later, cells were treated with various concentrations of the ethanolic plant extracts (final concentrations of 200, 450, and 1000 µg/mL) for 48 or 72 h. Following completion of the 48 or 72 h, 10 µL of MTT were added to each well, while an equal amount of 0.1% DMSO was used to treat cells that served as the negative control, and the plate was incubated for 4 h at 37 • C. The MTT solution was then removed, and formazan crystals were dissolved by adding 200 µL of DMSO. Absorbance was then measured at a wavelength of 570 nm using a microplate reader (specifically, the ELx800TM Absorbance Microplate Reader (BioTek Instruments Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) for the experiments performed at the Cyprus University of Technology or the Thermo Scientific™ Varioskan™ LUX multimode microplate reader and SkanIt™ (Waltham, MA USA) for the experiments performed at the European University Cyprus).…”