Chemical composition of hummayd (Rumex vesicarius) grown in Saudi Arabia

Protein, moisture, ash and lipids analysis, mineral and organic acids composition, ascorbic acid, and tocopherols of Rumex vesicarius leaves grown in the central and northern regions of Saudi Arabia were determined. This wild edible plant is locally called hummayd. The protein value was 17.1–20.1 g/100 g, moisture was 87.8–93.5 g/100 g, ash was 14.6–19.6 g/100 g and lipids were 3.1–3.8 g/100 g. The concentration of the minerals ranged from 1790 to 3680 mg/100 g for calcium, 2.1–3.9 mg/100 g for copper, 24.1–42.5 mg/100 g for iron, 1320–2270 mg/100 g for magnesium, 2710–3230 mg/100 g for potassium, 846–1100 mg/100 g for sodium and 3.7–8.8 mg/100 g for zinc (atomic absorption spectrophotometer analysis). The range of organic acids was 277–307 mg/100 g for citric, 5530–5620 mg/100 g for malic and 2840–3260 mg/100 g for oxalic acid (HPLC analysis). The chemical composition of the leaves indicates that the hummayd is a good source of minerals, a moderate source of protein and ascorbic acid, is high in oxalic acid and low in lipids and tocopherol. The high acidity and lemony flavour suggest that hummayd may be useful in the formulation of acid foods.