Determination of Selected Essential Elements in Traditional Vegetables, Medicinal Plants, Fruits and Conventionally grown Vegetables in Koibatek, Kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Cherop, Bernard Kipkemboi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-08-23T08:51:25Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-08-23T08:51:25Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011-08-23 | |
| dc.description | Department of Chemistry, 119p. The QK 898 .B54C48 2009 | |
| dc.description.abstract | There is growing awareness about tile efficacy of' essential elements in the maintainance of' good health and prevention of diseases. Zinc plays a vital role in wound healing. immune system, reproductive system and nervous system. Zinc wades off oxygen free radicals and also aid in metabolism of carbohydrates by assisting insulin to function. Chromium lowers blood sugar and also works with insulin in metabolization of sugar, while copper is required for conversion of body's Fe into haemoglobin. Copper lowers low density lipoprotein (LDI.) cholesterol, raises high density lipoprotein (I-IDL) cholesterol and prevent oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Iron is necessary for production of' haemoglobin, immune functioning and drug detoxification. Manganese aids in maintenance of blood glucose level, synthesis of interferon, energy production and bone growth. In this study Zn, Cu, Mn, l e and Cr in selected traditional vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants and conventionally grown vegetables growing/found in Koibatek district (Kenya) were determined using atomic absorption .spectroscopy (AAS) and energy dispersive X- ray fluorescence (EDXRF). This study analysed the elemental contents of a total 312 randomly collected plant samples. In this study Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and Cr were detected in all the samples, and thb results indicated that traditional vegetables and medicinal plants had high levels of these elements compared to conventionally grown vegetables. However, traditional vegetables had the highest levels of tilt specified essential elements of all the plant samples analysed. Amaranthus hyridicus had the Highest levels or Zn (77.62±33.09 mg/kg), while Gynandropsis gynandra was the best source of' Fe (1 108.00 ± 410.28 mg/kg). Utica mussaica had highest levels of Cr (28.28 ±18.08 mg/kt,) while Gullinsoga paruiflora was the best source of Cu (14.47 ± 6.97 rng/kg). essential elements leached into tire surrounding cooking water when traditional vegetables were boiled and the loss was significant in some samples. 'there were positive and negative correlations between certain metal pair interactions for instance in vegetables there was a high degree of positive correlation in Mn-Cr interaction (r = 0.87). The research findings will help the people of Koibatek district to achieve food security, manage micronutrient deficiencies and to generate income through utilization or sale of traditional vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants from wider sources | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1126 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Plant bioactive compounds | |
| dc.subject | Medicinal plants --Koibatek, Kenya | |
| dc.subject | Minerals in nitrition | |
| dc.subject | Plants, Edible --Koibatek, Kenya | |
| dc.title | Determination of Selected Essential Elements in Traditional Vegetables, Medicinal Plants, Fruits and Conventionally grown Vegetables in Koibatek, Kenya | |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |