ABSTRACT

The research of the comparative study of proximate, phytochemical and mineral composition of Pennisetum purpureum, Pterocarpus mildbraedii and Pterocarpus soyauxii were carried out at Umuokeyi Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State. The samples were washed with distilled water and were put in an oven at 65C for drying. The dried samples were ground into powdered form using mechanical grinder. Analyses of the proximate, phytochemical and mineral composition were done. Pterocarpus soyawxii has the greater percent of moisture content of between 7.58% - 13.40%. The moisture content of Pterocarpus mildbraedii and Pennisetum purpureum ranged between 6.84% - 11.40% and 8.90% - 9.20% respectively. The dry matter content of Pennisetum purpureum, Pterocarpus mildbraedii and Pterocarpus soyauxii ranged between 90.80% - 1.10%, 88.60% - 93.16% and 86.60% - 92.42% respectively. The ash composition of Pennisetum purpureum, P. mildbraedii and P. soyauxii ranged between 6.08% - 8.50%, 4.88% - 6.98% and 4.88% - 7.25%. Pennisetum purpureum had crude protein of between 12.25% - 25.89% while Pterocarpus mildbraedii and Pterocarpus soyawxii had crude protein of between I 0.50% - 2.69% and 9.63% - 14.44%. Ether extract content was below 10% on the three (3) studied plants. Carbohydrate content was observed in all the tested samples. The percent content of carbohydrate ranged between 50% - 80% on the three tested samples. Saponin, Flavonoid, Tannin, Phytel and Phenol content were below 2.5% on the three studied plant species. Alkaloid content of the three plant species studied ranged betweenl.500% - 4.600%. The mineral composition was observed. Calcium and Nitrogen content ranged between 1.5414% - 5.6203% on the three studied plants. Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium and Phosphorous were 2.00% on the three studied plant species. The result of this study showed that the phytochemical and mineral composition of Pennisetum purpureum, Pterocarpus mildbraedii and Pterocarpus soyauxii were in appreciable amount and these can be of health significance. This may account for the effective use in the treatment of ailments and for production of industrial drugs.