Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria

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 cu...

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Main Authors: Gregory Oko, Vo Thi Kim Khuyen, Emediong Udo, Chioma Ikechukwu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
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Online Access:https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50936_b3062486e9dcbac169d93d68eb3b2f66.pdf
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author Gregory Oko
Vo Thi Kim Khuyen
Emediong Udo
Chioma Ikechukwu
author_facet Gregory Oko
Vo Thi Kim Khuyen
Emediong Udo
Chioma Ikechukwu
author_sort Gregory Oko
collection DOAJ
description 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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publisher Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
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series International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
spelling doaj-art-d120cf776fa04e0a90f35f6bfeb173622025-08-20T03:28:14ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Nutrition Sciences2538-18732538-28292025-06-0110232435110.30476/ijns.2025.104544.136150936Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in NigeriaGregory Oko0Vo Thi Kim Khuyen1Emediong Udo2Chioma Ikechukwu3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, NigeriaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry and Drug Quality Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho-Chi-Minh City, VietnamDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, NigeriaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, NigeriaBackground: 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.https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50936_b3062486e9dcbac169d93d68eb3b2f66.pdfbrazilian plume flowerdandelionjusticia carneataraxacum officinalenutritional value
spellingShingle Gregory Oko
Vo Thi Kim Khuyen
Emediong Udo
Chioma Ikechukwu
Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
brazilian plume flower
dandelion
justicia carnea
taraxacum officinale
nutritional value
title Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
title_full Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
title_fullStr Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
title_short Nutritional Values of Brazilian Plume Flower (Justicia carnea) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Cultivated in Nigeria
title_sort nutritional values of brazilian plume flower justicia carnea and dandelion taraxacum officinale cultivated in nigeria
topic brazilian plume flower
dandelion
justicia carnea
taraxacum officinale
nutritional value
url https://ijns.sums.ac.ir/article_50936_b3062486e9dcbac169d93d68eb3b2f66.pdf
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