PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea): NUTRITIONAL AND BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

As the human population is rising, food demands are also surging up that can be met by cultivating wild vegetables, since they are considered low-cost food source among local populations. The current investigation during July 2023 to December 2023 is attempted, to quantitatively evaluate spinach (Spinacia oleracea), that is grown in Tagarapuvalasa, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh; India; for it is proximate composition levels and anti-microbial activity. Proteins, total carbohydrates and lipids were estimated by following Lowry et.al., [1951], Caroll et.al., [1956] and Bligh and Dyer [1959] respectively. The anti-microbial activity of the leaf extracts was determined by using the protocol reported by Shahriar et al. [2018b] and the zone of inhibition (ZOI) towards the microbes was calculated. From the results of this study, it was found that spinach of the study area is a significant source of macronutrients and micronutrients. Moreover, it also showed the highest anti-bacterial potential as observed in the results of the analysis. Hence, awareness regarding the nutritional and functional properties of these under-utilized leaves may aid towards nutritional and food security in addition to generating novel therapeutic avenues. It may be concluded that, apart from cultivating spinach during the main season, its yield 15 to 30 days early and later main season also may be a more profitable business, not only for a bigger farmer but also to small and marginal farmers. KEYWORDS: Spinach leaf extract, analysis, Nutrients, Anti-bacterial acitivity, Profit.