Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
2025
Gregory Oko | Vo Thi Kim Khuyen | Emediong Udo | Chioma Ikechukwu
Background: Justicia carnea known as Brazilian plume flower and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) have drawn the research attention due to their potential health benefits, and lack of available scientific evidences. So this study assessed the nutritional values of these two Brazilian plume flowers cultivated in Nigeria.Methods: The moisture content, total protein, crude fiber, ash percentage and levels of vitamins A, B, C and E and minerals were determined.Results: Dandelion had a higher protein and fat content (28.25±0.35% and 24.00±0.71% protein, 15.19±0.02 and 12.94±0.09% fat), while Brazilian plume flower had a larger carbohydrate and fiber content (38.38±0.18 and 32.33±0.40% carbohydrate; 0.26±0.01% and 0.18±0.03% fiber). There were also differences in the composition of vitamins A, B, C and E in the leaves of T. officinale and J. carnea. The contents of vitamins A and B were higher in J. carnea (515.8±6.77 and 277.5±8.56 g/100 mg, respectively), whereas T. officinale accumulated a higher amount of vitamins C and E (5.15±0.24 and 0.96±0.01 g/100 mg, respectively). In addition, Brazilian plume flower contained a high mineral composition (iron, potassium, manganese, magnesium) compared to dandelion, except for copper, zinc, and sodium. No significant difference was seen in the calcium and phosphorus concentrations.Conclusion: The two plant samples had different nutritional profiles, highlighting the significance of taking into account the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) for dietary assessment and planning.
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