Comparison of proximate composition and fiber content between varieties of sri lankan green leafy vegetables ipomea aquatica, centella asiatica and sesbania grandiflora

Abstract

Nutrition stands as vital for human existence. Despite its critical importance, nations with lower and middle incomes, such as Sri Lanka, can be exceptionally susceptible to food insecurity, especially in the face of economic crises right after the pandemic. Many Sri Lankans are consequently leading to malnutrition, with considerable difficulty in securing an ample supply of nutritious food during this crisis period. Thus, Sri Lanka consists of cost effective, readily available, nutrientdense, and locally sourced food. Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) comprise abundant essential dietary components, including vital macronutrients [1], [2]. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends five servings of vegetables each day, with one of those servings specifically emphasizing GLVs [HHS/USDA 2020-2025]. Notably, the traditional Sri Lankan diet mainly comprises GLVs. Sri Lanka with its tropical climate abides by a diverse range of GLVs. Consequently, exploring the nutritional value of the GLVs, particularly as a sustainable approach to combat malnutrition, is important and justifies further investigation. The nutrient constituents of GLVs can vary depending on several factors including environmental factors, agricultural practices and intrinsic factors such as species and variety. Numerous studies have demonstrated the fluctuations in the nutritional profiles of species, yet inquiries related to varieties are scarce. This study was carried out to study the comparative proximate analysis (the moisture, ash, carbohydrate, protein, and fat contents) and fiber content between two varieties of selected three GLV species; Ipomea aquatica, Centella asiatica and Sesbania grandiflora (Figure 1), which are commonly consumed in Sri Lanka. I. aquatica samples were collected from the home gardens of Jaffna and S. grandiflora and C. asiatica samples were collected from Kalutara. Two different varieties of each species were acquired from similar geographical locations, grown under similar growth conditions such as light, water, nutrients, and temperature, and were identified based on morphological characteristics. The knowledge from this study holds the potential to refine the selection processes of GLVs in agriculture. Furthermore, this study paves the way to expand the GLV applications within the food industry leading to amplified nutritional advantages.