Proximate, mineral, and anti-nutrient compositions of selected wild edible plants consumed in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are essential food and nutritional sources in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Despite their significance, limited research exists on their nutritional profiles. Five WEPs from northwestern Ethiopia were analyzed for proximate, mineral, and antinutrient compositions using standard food analysis methods. Nutritional variation was assessed using one-way ANOVA. Nutrient ranges were moisture (6.14–10.48 %), crude protein (2.55–23.14 %), crude fat (0.67–4.00 %), crude fiber (4.18–14.42 %), crude ash (3.05–12.05 %), carbohydrate (43.21–77.96 %), and gross energy (282.92–347.42 kcal/100 g). Mineral content (mg/100 g dry weight) included Mg (87.96–473.24), K (661.09–2147.23), Ca (158.43–1000.63), P (152.91–426.88), Na (trace amounts), Fe (7.70–22.07), Zn (0.30–3.55), Cu (0.63–1.37), and Mn (trace to 2.67). Anti-nutrient levels (mg/100 g) were 80.78–168.99 for phytate, 281.99–936.83 for tannin, and 609.29–945.45 for oxalate. Molar ratios for antinutrients and minerals were below critical thresholds, indicating favorable bioavailability in Abelmoschus ficulneus and Corchorus olitorius. Results suggest that these WEPs, particularly Abelmoschus ficulneus and Corchorus olitorius, offer substantial nutrients to address deficiencies. Sustainable conservation, increased consumption, and domestication of these WEPs could supplement common crops and reduce malnutrition in Ethiopia.