THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF TWO FOLIA MORPHOTYPES OF CENTELLA ASIATICA (L) GROWN IN MADAGASCAR

• Published in: African journal of food, agriculture, nutrition, and development : AJFAND Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 14654 - 14673
• Main Authors: Ranovona, Z, Mertz, C, Dhuique-Mayer, C, Servent, A, Dornier, M, Danthu, P, Ralison, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rural Outreach Program 01-06-2019; AJFAND
• Subjects: Amino acids; Beta carotene; Carotenoids; Centella asiatica; Food and Nutrition; Food engineering; High performance liquid chromatography; Life Sciences; lipid; minerals; Organic acids; protein; reniform leaves; Retirement benefits; round leaves; Spectroscopy; Vegetables; Vitamin A; Vitamin C; France; Madagascar; minerals; vitamin A; protein; amino acids; Centella asiatica; reniform leaves; round leaves; lipid
• ISSN: 1684-5358; 1684-5374; 1684-5374
• DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.86.17750

Centella asiatica is a herbal plant generally used for its curative
properties. Two foliar morphotypes were recently identified in
Madagascar: a reniform tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) in the Center and the
East of the island and a round diploid (2n = 2x = 18) in the West. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional properties of
these two morphotypes and to compare them with other green leafy
vegetables. Reniform leaves were collected in Antananarivo and
Moramanga and round leaves were collected in Tsiroanomandidy and
Analavory. Macronutrient content was determined by standard methods,
mineral contents were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic
emission spectroscopy. Ascorbic acid and carotenoids were quantified by
HPLC. Food composition showed significant differences between the
morphotypes. Reniform leaves have higher protein content (19-22 %
dry weight (DW)) than round leaves (17-21 % DW). Lipid content
are from 2.5 to 6.0 % DW. Reniform leaves have higher iron content than
round leaves. Iron content of C. asiatica's leaves range from 3.8
to 12.5 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW). Reniform leaves from Moramanga have
the highest protein, lipid and iron content. Round leaves from
Analavory have the highest calcium and magnesium content, which can
cover 41 % and 17 % of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA),
respectively. Leaves of C. asiatica have low vitamin C content (1.3 to
7.7 mg/100 g FW). Consumption of 100 g of C. asiatica leaves could
cover 10 to 21 % of vitamin A daily requirements of women for reniform
leaves and 21 to 37 % of vitamin A requirement of women for round
leaves. Round leaves from Analavory have the highest β-carotene
content. It is hoped that from these findings, the people of Madagascar
will be encouraged to include C. asiatica in their diets for its
nutritional benefits.