Abstract

RUTIN (VITAMIN P), A FLAVONOL WITH VARIABLE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS: ITS CONTENT VALUATION IN SELECTED EDIBLE VEGETABLE LEAVES

Abdallah Yakubu* and Addai-Mensah Donkor

ABSTRACT

The current research aimed at analyzing rutin content in edible vegetable leaves highly patronized in the Ghanaian market. Plant phenolics such as flavonoids and their diverse biological assets have stirred an interest in these phytoconstituents. One of the flavonoids which is not extensively explored in Ghana is rutin. The growing curiosity in potent biological activity of this essential nutrient, rutin has necessitated its valuation with respect to its content in edible vegetable plants leaves. The study involved ten vegetable leaf species, five obtained during the dry season and remaining five acquired during the rainy season. The results displayed the content of rutin in A. digitata (0.31%), being the highest. The content in P. vulgaris (0.14%), exhibited the lowest. The experimental outcomes regarding the vegetable leaves indicated the highest content of rutin was established in the leaves acquired during the rainy season. However, considering the rutin content analysed, comparing both experimental conditions, that is seasonal periods, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) associated with A. digitata, P. vulgaris and A. cruentus whilst a significant difference (p < 0.05) was exhibited in H. sabdarifa, V. amygdalina and H. cannabinus. Among the leafy types studied, A. digitata was found to possess more rutin, an antioxidant bioactive constituent known to exhibit numerous pharmacological actions.

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