Comparative Assessment of the Phytochemicals and Minerals of Solanum Gilo and Solanum Melongena Fruits

Abstract

Eggplant fruits (solanum gilo and solanum melongena) are two species that are commonly grown in the Northern Nigeria, Sokoto State. This work aimed at comparing some of the Phytochemicals and some of the minerals composition of fruits from the two species of the Eggplant using standard analytical methods. The phytochemicals analysis showed solanum gilo and solanum melongena contained the same value for both saponins, cardiac glycosides, oxalate which were 1.00 ± 0.20 %, 1.20 ± 0.12 %, and 0.07 ± 0.00 % respectively, 1.00 ± 0.20 % and 0.73± 0.12 % alkaloid, 2.03 ± 0.40 % and 0.28 ± 0.00 % flavonoid, 32.28 ± 0.22 and 64.43 ± 0.06 % tannins, 77.83 ± 1.15 % and 21.10 ± 0.36% steroid. The results from the two fruits showed that saponin, alkaloid, cardiac glycoside, and oxalate were not significantly different at P<0.05, while flavonoid, tannin, steroid were significantly different. The mineral contents of solanum gilo and solanum melongena indicated 0.68 ± 0.04 mg/kg and 0.37 ± 0.02 mg/kg phosphorous, 8.73 ± 0.07 mg/kg  and 4.77 ± 0.10 mg/kg calcium, 19.33 ± 0.12 mg/kg and 13.83 ± 0.15 mg/kg magnesium, 37.66 ± 0.88 mg/kg and 46.33 ± 0.67 mg/kg sodium, 45.33 ± 0.67 mg/kg and 61.33 ± 1.20 mg/kg potassium,1.92 ± 0.01 mg/kg and 1.13 ± 0.01 mg/kg iron, 0.43 ± 0.01 mg/kg and 0.27 ± 0.01 mg/kg zinc, 0.39 ± 0.00 mg/kg and 0.34 ± 0.01 mg/kg manganese, 0.19 ± 0.01 mg/kg and 0.21 ± 0.12 mg/kg copper. The results from the two fruits were significantly different at P<0.05. These mineral elements and phytochemicals are of nutritional and therapeutic importance; their presence in both fruits indicated the beneficial effects of the Eggplant. Solanum gilo contained higher levels of the beneficial agents than Solanum melongena.