Chemical Composition of Kawal (Cassia obtusifolia) Leaves

Abstract

Cassia obtusifolia (kawal) leaves samples, in the form of crude, fermented, and cooked were analyzed using standard methods of analysis. For the determination of moisture, ash, fat, crude fiber, crude protein, carbohydrate and minerals composition of the elements Na, K, Ca, Fe and Zn were carried out as dry weight bases. The values obtained for the crude sample were as follows: moisture 4.9%, ash 15.6%, fat 3.7%, crude fiber11.7%, protein22.1% carbohydrate 53.1% and minerals were (Na 227.31, K 2609.58, C 3342.33 , Fe 334.64 and Zn 24.21 mg\kg). The values obtained for fermented cassia obtusifolia leaves were moisture 7% , ash 18.7%, fat 5.0%, crude fiber 11.7% and protein24.7%, carbohydrate 60.1% and minerals were Na 290.78, K 2684.21 , Ca 3802.65, Fe 518.31 and Zn 70.84 mg\kg. The values obtained for fermented cooked cassia obtusifolia leaves were moisture 8.9%, ash 20.0%, fat 4.2%, crude fiber 10.0% and protein23.8%, carbohydrate 58% and minerals were Na 228.64, K 2290.84, Ca 3921.79, Fe 418.69 and Zn 60.95 mg\kg. The total caloric values for crude 1402.7, fermented 1611, and fermented cooked 1532.3 for cassia obtusifolia leaves as Kj\ 100g.