Characterization of bioactive compounds and nutritional qualities of ipomoea batatas and solanum tuberosum: Food and rural livelihoods

Abstract

Background and Objective: Rural livelihoods are a kind of rural life where foods are being produced majorly for consumption and devoid of the knowledge of the presence of various bioactive compounds which are essential for physiological functions in the human body. The research was aimed at the characterization of the bioactive compounds of Ipomoea batatas and Solanum tuberosum. Materials and Methods: Ipomoea batatas and Solanum tuberosum were air-dried and powdered using a grinder (Sumeet CM/L 2128945). Proximate analysis was done according to Methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists, the mineral analysis was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, extraction of oil was done using Soxhlet apparatus. The oil extract was characterized using a gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer and identified compounds were screened for drug properties using an online Osiris server. Results: The proximate results showed that the two samples had the same protein contents (24.70±0.21%) but Solanum tuberosum had higher fibre (10.99±0.12%). The metal analysis showed the calcium content to be higher in Solanum tuberosum (10.68 mg/100 g) and potassium content was higher in Ipomoea batatas (51.80 mg/100 g). Identified compounds in the oil extract such as Oxazoline exhibited various drug properties such as drug-likeness and toxicology. Conclusion: The research had shown these two plants are nutritionally rich and possess bioactive compounds that are good sources of chemotherapeutic agents.