title: Proximate composition, nutritional attributes and mineral composition of Peperomia pellucida L. (Ketumpangan Air) grown in Malaysia.
abstract: This study presents the proximate and mineral composition of Peperomia pellucida L., an underexploited weed plant in Malaysia. Proximate analysis was performed using standard AOAC methods and mineral contents were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated Peperomia pellucida to be rich in crude protein, carbohydrate and total ash contents. The high amount of total ash (31.22%)suggests a high-value mineral composition comprising potassium, calcium and iron as the main elements. The present study inferred that Peperomia pellucida would serve as a good source of protein and energy as well as micronutrients in the form of a leafy vegetable for human consumption.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia. ooiderjiun@gmail.com
authors.forename: Der-Jiun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Maznah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D036941:Peperomia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D028321:Plant Preparations