Analysis of Elevation Effects on the Chemical Composition Of Moringa Oleifera Leaves Using a Multivariate Statistical Approach
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of Moringa oleifera leaves across three elevation-associated sampling ranges and examine relationships among chemical traits. Leaf composition data from samples collected at 0–250, 251–500, and 501–750 m above sea level were evaluated using one-way ANOVA, Duncan’s multiple range test, effect size estimation, Pearson correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). Protein content differed significantly among ranges (η² = 0.984), declining from 31.69 ± 0.58% in the lowest range to 29.93 ± 0.28% in the highest. Between these ranges, tannin and crude fiber contents increased from 0.64 ± 0.21% to 0.86 ± 0.41% and from 4.91 ± 0.45% to 7.81 ± 0.96%, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed decreasing trends, from 618.73 ± 69.45 to 486.40 ± 45.78 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and from 2.83 ± 0.11 to 1.51 ± 0.06 mg quercetin equivalents/g, respectively. Protein correlated negatively with tannin, whereas total phenolics correlated positively with flavonoids. The first two principal components explained 93.97% of total variance, separating nutritional traits from structural and defense-related traits. These contrasting patterns are consistent with environmental influences on nutrient accumulation and secondary metabolism. However, site-specific confounding limits attribution to elevation alone. Future studies should incorporate environmental covariates and replicated sampling sites to clarify these relationships.
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