Nutritional composition in African nightshade (Solanum scabrum) influenced by harvesting methods, age and storage conditions

•African nightshade is a rich source of healthy promoting phytonutrients and minerals.•Pre-harvest physiological maturity influences the nutrient contents of nightshade.•Post-harvest storage conditions affects retention of the nutrients in nightshade. African indigenous vegetables have a great potential in improving livelihood, offering sustainable food security and solving the malnutrition crisis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). African nightshade (Solanum scabrum) is one of such indigenous vegetable, highly appreciated for its nutritive and pharmacological benefits. The vegetable is rich in antioxidative compounds, vitamins, carbohydrates, carotenoids, folic acid, minerals and amino acids. However, the optimal nutritional benefits of nightshade are influenced by pre-harvest physiological maturity, postharvest storage conditions and harvesting methods. We analyzed the dynamics of phytonutrients in nightshade grown under Kenyan field conditions, harvested using different methods and at different developmental stages, 30, 60, 90 and 120 d after planting (dap) and storing them at 5 °C and room temperature (RT). Harvesting by uprooting and cutting offered higher yields, but had the lowest nutrients retained after 4 d storage at RT, while picking single leaves (continuous method) had lower yields but higher nutrients retained. The total carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose and starch) and chlorophyll were highest in concentration at 60 dap (136.3 ± 2.9 g kg−1 and 5.8 ± 0.3 g kg-1 dry weight (DW) respectively). Gallic acid equivalent phenolics (GAE), catechin equivalent flavonoids (CAE), trolox equivalent antioxidants (TEA) and total carotenoids were highest in concentrations at 90 dap with 12.6 ± 1.0 g kg−1, 24.1 ± 1.6 g kg−1, 108.8 ± 6.0 g kg−1 and 1.01 ± 0.04 g kg−1 DW respectively. The mineral elements mainly remained stable during development apart from iron which was highest at 30 dap (1.3 ± 0.5 g kg−1), zinc was highest at 120 dap (62.1 ± 4.4 mg kg−1) and calcium was highest at 90 dap (24.3 ± 0.7 g kg−1 DW). A significant decline of phytonutrients was evidenced after 2 d storage at RT. At cold storage (5 °C), there was no significant decline on most of the phytonutrients, at least up to 4 d. Results in this study highlight the importance of maturity stages and low storage temperature for optimal nutrients and postharvest quality management of African nightshades.