Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 11 (2): 176-180, 2012 ISSN 1680-5194 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012 Corresponding Author: F. Mtunzi, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, South Africa 176 Investigation of the Nutritive Value and Mineral Elements of Combretum molle Leaves F. Mtunzi , T. Singo , A. Pholosi , N. Mzinyane , J. Modise and A. Sipamla 1 2 1 1 3 3 Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology, ICBT, 1 2 3 Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa Abstract: The study was concern with determining the nutritive value and the concentrations of mineral elements of Combretum molle leaves. Leaves were analyzed for mineral elements by using standard analytical methods and AAS. The nutrients (ash, fibre, protein and moisture) content were obtained by different biochemical methods. The leaves were found to be high in Ca (210.01±13.32 ppm) concentration and low in Zn (0.74±0.01 ppm) and Cu (1.89±0.02 ppm) concentrations. The second highest element present was Mn at 66.36±8.21 ppm. Fe was found to be 14.14±2.11 ppm. Carbohydrates, proteins, fibre and moisture were present in significant amount, but low in fat content. The nutritive value of the leaves was found to be 296.49 cal/100 mg. Key words: Combretum molle, mineral elements, nutritive value INTRODUCTION Combretum molle is a shrub or small, graceful, deciduous tree 3-13 m high. It belongs to the family Combretaceae which includes 20 genera and about 600 species of plants distributed especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is commonly known as basterooibos in Afrikaans and Umbondwe-omhlophe in Zulu. It is a tree of the bush and savannah regions of Africa mostly in the southern foothills of Saudi Arabia, South and Tropical Africa. C. molle is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, abdominal pains, convulsion and worm infections (De Leo, 2006). It is also reported to be used to treat HIV patients in South Africa. The tree has a long standing reputation for the treatment of liver disease, malaria, tuberculosis, snakebites and general body swellings. Leaves are chewed or pounded, soaked in water and the juice is drunk for chest complaints and as an anthelmintic and sometimes they are used as inhalant in hot steam bath (Bessong et al., 2004). Several members of Combretaceae have been used to treat bacterial diseases in southern Africa (Kotzé and Eloff, 2002; Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Antimicrobial activity of six species of Combretum was observed by Alexander et al. (1992), whilst on the other hand Breytenbach and Malan (1989) were able to isolate three antimicrobial compounds from C. zeyheri. According to Martini and Eloff (1998), C. erythrophyllum contains at least 14 antibacterial compounds and some of these were found to have activities higher than chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Eloff (1999) investigated the antibacterial activity of leaf materials from 27 southern African members of the Combretaceae, however, no work has been done on the nutritive value and the concentration of mineral elements of the leaves of C. molle and other members of the family. The nutritive value is an indication of the contribution of food to the nutrient content of the diet. This value depends on the quantity of food which is digested, absorbed and the amount of the essential nutrients (protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, fiber and vitamins). Nutritive values of the plants are important as they act as component for human consumption. All human beings require number of complex organic compounds to meet the need for their muscular activities (Benton, 1972). Plant materials form major portion of the diet and therefore, their nutritive value is important (Indrayan et al., 2005). Human body comprises chemical compounds such as water, proteins, fatty acids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates and may or may not contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc (Katzmarzyk and Waist, 2004). Therefore an effort has been made in this study to use appropriate scientific methods to investigate the nutritive value and the concentrations of mineral elements in C. molle since deficiency or excess may posses’ danger to human (Chapman, 1967). Minerals are naturally occurring chemical elements the body uses to help perform certain chemical reactions. Minerals form an integral part of functionally important organic compounds such as iron (Fe) in hemoglobin and zinc (Zn) in insulin. They are essential for the normal functioning of muscles, heart, nerves and in the maintenance of body fluid composition among others, as well as for building strong bones. Mineral deficiencies can manifest in different forms of disease