PYHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND PROXIMATE SCREENING OF (ACANTUS MONTANUS, MORINGA OLEIFERA AND VERNONIA AMYGDALINA)
OSAGIEDE, L.A.; ODITA N.G. and AKAWO, N.O.
OSAGIEDE, L.A.: Department of Biology Education, Federal college of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
ODITA N.G.: Department of Biology Education, Federal college of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
AKAWO, N.O.: Department of Biology Education, Federal college of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Plants generally contain phytochemical compounds which are both nutritional and non-nutritional and may be used and applied in nutritional and pharmaceutical industries for production of drugs and beverages. This study was aimed to evaluate phytochemical constituents and proximate screening of Acantus montanus, Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina using standard laboratory approaches. The result of the Phytochemical screening showed that of Moringa oleifera contains Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Phytate, Cyanogenic glycoside is moderately present. Vernonia amygdalina contains alkaloids, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, phytate and saponinsin different proportions. While Acantus montanus contains Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Phytate and cyanogenic glycoside. The proximate composition of the leaf extracts shows that Acantus montanus, Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina has carbohydrate content of 30.30%, 25.99% and 25.10%. Protein content of 44.80%, 38.10%, and 42.30%, Fat content 5.40%, 6.70% and 3.45%, Fibre content of 10.00%, 15.2% and 16.00%, Ash content of 7.40%, 5.10% and 9.95%, moisture content of 2.1%, 8.90% and 3.2%. The presence of the phytochemicals in the leaf extracts has authenticated its usefulness in ethno medicine and its potentials use in drug formulation as well as use for food beverage production.
Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, Acantus montanus, Moringa oleifera phytochemicals, Proximate analysis