Analysis of the Mineral Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Mistletoe Leaves (Loranthaceae)

Abstract

Medicinal plant extracts have been used in different cultures, for treating ailments and managing health issues like inflammatory conditions, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, epilepsy, etc. Extracts of mistletoe leaves were studied for their mineral, nutritional and phytochemical composition. The proximate analysis results reveal high fibre content (11.1%) and low fat (3.2%) content, making it a good cholesterol-lowering agent. The mineral composition revealed that mistletoe leaves are nutritionally beneficial as they contain relatively high levels of iron, calcium, potassium, manganese and magnesium, which all play important physiological and metabolic roles in the body. The Na/K and Ca/P ratios of 0.623 and 3.931 respectively are considered favourable, making the leaves nutritionally and physiologically important. The presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, resins and alkaloids could be responsible for their use in traditional medicine. These findings therefore reveal that mistletoe leaves can be utilized as medicinal/curative agents in ameliorating health-related issues such as hypertension, cancer, arthritis and fertility-related ailments; as well as being nutritionally beneficial, if properly harnessed.