Nutritional Value And Phytochemical Properties Of Fresh Leave Of Pterocarpus Santalinoides (L.) Her. Ex Dc.

ABSTRACT

The chemical and elemental constituents of fresh leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides were evaluated. The fresh green Pterocarpus Santalinoides leaves were handpicked to remove foreign particles and rinsed in de-ionized water to remove dust and dirt. Pterocarpus santalinoides leaves was washed, drained and shade dried at room temperature for seven days. After drying, the vegetables were pulverized into powder and labelled as shade dried. Proximate, phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins composition were determined according totheir respective standard methods. From the results, it was seen that that flavonoids are significantly (p<0.05) higher than other phytochemicals, which was followed by oxalates and then alkaloids. Tanins and phenols are non-significantly (p>0.05) different from each other when compared. The proximate composition was recorded with dry matter having the highest percentage which was followed by carbohydrate, crude protein and then moisture content. The result also shows that ash content and crude fibre are non-significantly (p>0.05) different from each other, while ether extract had the least percentage. The vitamin composition of the plant as seen in fig. 3 shows that vitamin C is significantly (p<0.05) higher than other vitamins. Vitamins A, B1 and B2 has no significant (p>0.05) difference when compared among each other while vitamin E has the least value and significantly (p<0.05) different from other vitamins, while the minerals result shows that shows that potassium is significantly (p<0.05) higher than other minerals, followed by calcium which is significantly (p<0.05) higher than magnesium, sodium and iron. Magnesium is also significantly (p<0.05) higher than sodium and iron while sodium is significantly (p<0.05) higher than iron. The results showed that fresh leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides contains varying concentrations of chemical, elemental and macronutrient components. As such, they can serve as good sources of useful elements. The leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides could also have better anti-oxidant properties when compared to others and as such could be recommended for some evaluation of other biological properties in vitro and in vivo.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgement ﾿ s ﾿ v

Table of Contents ﾿ vi

List of Figures ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿ Background of the Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Statement of the Problem ﾿ 4

1.3 ﾿ Aim and Objective of the Study ﾿ 4

1.3.1 ﾿ Aim of the study ﾿ 4

1.3.2 Specific Objective ﾿ 5

1.4 ﾿ Justification of the Study ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview of Pterocarpus spp ﾿ 6

2.2 Species ﾿ 7

2.3 Botanical Distribution ﾿ 8

2.4  Common Uses of Pterocarpus santalinoides Linn ﾿ 10

2.5 Phytochemicals ﾿ 12

2.6 Biological Activities of Phytochemicals ﾿ 12

2.7 Classification of Phytochemicals ﾿ 13

2.7.1 Phenolics ﾿ 14

2.7.1.1 Activity of Phenolic Acids ﾿ 15

2.7.2 Flavonoids ﾿ 15

2.7.2.1 Activity of Flavonoids ﾿ 16

2.7.3 Tannin ﾿ 17

2.7.3.1 Activity of Tannins ﾿ 17

2.7.4 Alkaloids ﾿ 18

2.7.4.1 Activity of Alkaloids ﾿ 18

2.7.5 Terpenoids ﾿ 19

2.7.5.1 Activity of Terpenes ﾿ 19

2.7.6 Saponin ﾿ 20

2.7.6.1 Activity of Saponins ﾿ 21

2.8 Proximate ﾿ 22

2.8.1 Ash ﾿ 22

2.8.2 Crude fibre ﾿ 22

2.8.3 Proteins ﾿ 22

2.9 Definition of Vitamins ﾿ 23

2.9.1 General Classification of Vitamins ﾿ 23

2.9.2 Importance of Vitamins ﾿ 23

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Materials ﾿ 25

3.1.2 Reagents and Chemicals ﾿ 25

3.1.3 Apparatus ﾿ 26

3.1.4 Preparation of Plant Materials ﾿ 26

3.2 Methods ﾿ 27

3.2.1 Determination of Moisture Content ﾿ 27

3.2.2 Determination of Ash Content ﾿ 27

3.2.3 Determination of Fat Content ﾿ 28

3.2.4 Determination of Crude Fibre ﾿ 29

3.2.5 Determination of Protein Content ﾿ 30

3.2.6 Carbohydrate ﾿ 31

3.3 Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis ﾿ 31

3.3.1 Determination of Alkaloid ﾿ 31

3.3.2 Determination of Tannin ﾿ 32

3.3.3 Determination of Flavonoid ﾿ 33

3.3.4 Determination of Phenol ﾿ 33

3.3.5  Determination of Oxalates ﾿ 34

3.4 Provitamin a Determination ﾿ 35

3.5 Determination of Vitamin C ﾿ 36

3.6 Mineral Determination ﾿ 37

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1.1 ﾿ Phytochemical result of leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides ﾿ 39

4.1.2 ﾿ Proximate result of fresh leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides ﾿ 40

4.1.3 ﾿ Vitamins result of fresh leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides ﾿ 41

4.1.4 ﾿ Minerals result of fresh leaves of Pterocarpus santalinoides ﾿ 42

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 43

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion and Recommendations ﾿ 50

REFERENCES