Comparative Analysis of the Phytochemical and Nutrient Evaluation of the Seeds and Leaves of Plukenetia conophora plant

Abstract

Samples of Plukenetia conophora fresh seeds and fresh leaves were analysed for Proximate composition, secondary metabolites, Vitamins and Mineral constituents. The result of proximate analysis shows that the fresh seeds and leaves respectively contained  46.03±0.03% and 29±0.71% moisture, 4.28±0.01%  and 5.63±0.08% fat, 7.34±0.71% and 14.92±0.04% fibre, 21.65±0.5% and 16.62±0.30% protein, 5.27±1.35% and 12.89±0.02% Ash, 18.10±0.01%  and 20.94±0.01% carbohydrate. The phytochemical screening and subsequent quantification of the seed and leaves revealed the presence of tannin, 0.089±0.01mg/kg and 0.560±0.01mg/kg, alkaloid, 2.380±0.2mg/kg and 2.670±0.02, gallic acid, 0.024±0.01mg/kg and 0.180±0.02mg/kg. There was no traces of saponin and anthraquinones in the fresh seed, while flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, ellagic acid and caffeinic acid were absent in both part of the plant samples. The mineral analysis revealed the constituents to be K, 6250±0.2mg/kg and 15937±0.02, Na, 4830±0.1mg/kg and 7980±0.01mg/kg, Ca, 4337.5±0.08mg/kg and 18700±0.02mg/kg, Mg, 1711.25±0.8mg/kg and 1766.25±0.1mg/kg, Fe, 110±0.04mg/kg and 4610±0.10mg/kg, Zn, 40.10±0.10mg/kg and 61.15±0.08mg/kg, Mn, 22.00±0.01mg/kg and79.50±0.03mg/kg, Cu, 16.45±0.03mg/kg and 8.60±0.10mg/kg for the fresh seed and leaves respectively.

Vitamin composition results showed that the fresh seed and leaves respectively contained Thiamine (B₁) 0.06±0.008?g/100g and 0.29±0.01µg/100g, Riboflavin (B₂) 0.02±0.008?g/100g and 0.34±0.01µg/100g, Niacin, 0.05±0.02?g/100g and 0.12±0.3µg/100g, Cyanocobalamin (B₁₂),0.12±0.1?g/100g and 0.23±0.03µg/100g. Ascorbic acid (C) 4.15±0.02mg/100g and 16.28±0.04mg/100g, tocopherol (E), 122.57±0.20µg/100g and 2.67±0.008µg/100g. The results proved that Plukenetia conophora fresh seeds and leaves can serve as foods and could  also be potential sources of useful drugs formulation.

Key words: Plukenetia, conophora, phytochemical, nutrient,