The Potential of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L) Leaves From North- And West Kordofan In Sudan As Mineral Complement Of Common Diets

Abstract

Baobab is wildly growing in the Baobab-Belt of Kordofan, Sudan, where the leaves are consumed restrictively even though food insecurity is a wide spread phenomenon. In order to encourage consumption by all households and promote their values, information on the true nutrient density is sought. In a research conducted for that purpose it was found that the average calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc content of the baobab leaves collected from ten villages are 2852±697, 555±156, and 42.39±11.65 and 1.94±0.5 mg/100 g dry matter respectively. The mean values within and between villages are highly variable and the ratio between various minerals is beyond standard e.g. Ca: Mg >5. However, an average of 32g macerated leaves can enrich the calcium content of a daily staple diet per person to adequacy. Similar level of leaves can also optimize the magnesium and iron content of the daily diet per person, but caution is necessary not to overlook the balance of the minerals so that the bioavailability of the minor ones is not hindered.