Effect of different drying methods and storage on proximate and mineral composition of fluted pumpkin leaf, Telfairia occidentalis Hook f

Purpose: The leaves of Telfairia occidentalis is affected by the various methods of drying and storage employed after harvest. This research work is therefore designed to determining the best drying method for the preservation of Telfairia occidentalis using the mineral and proximate constituents as indices. Research method: The cleaned, fresh leaves were then divided into three portions. The first portion was sundried, the second portion was air-dried and the third portion was oven-dried. Each sample was analyzed for proximate composition and mineral content. Findings: The results of the various analysis generally showed that the oven-dried samples have the highest mineral content followed by sun-dried and then the air-dried. The ash content was most top (12.78%) in the oven-dried example, sample followed by air-dried, sun-dried, and then fresh samples while the moisture content was most top (82.62%) in the clean examplefollowed by sun-dried, air-dried and oven-dried with 11.40, 9.18%, and 6.33% moisture respectively. The carbohydrate content was most top (32.62%) in the sun-dried sample followed by air-dried, oven-dried and then fresh ones with 30.10, 29.58, and 4.44% respectively. The protein content was highest (32.69%) in the oven-dried samplefollowed by air-dried, clean, and then sun-dried examples with 30.16, 5.92, and 2.70%, respectively. The fat content was highest (7.50%) in the air-dried and oven-dried examples followed by sun-dried, and the fresh ones with 6.85 and 1.85%, respectively. The fiber content was most top (11.16%) in the oven-dried example followed by air-dried, sun-dried, and the fresh ones with 10.69, 9.16, and 2.94% respectively. Limitations: The proximate and mineral compositions of the leaves were investigated after drying and storage. Originality/Value: The results showed that the oven-dried samples in most cases, have the highest proximate and mineral composition. So, oven-drying is the most nutritionally viable method in the preservation and storage of Telfairia occidentalis.