ABSTRACT

Plants are termed medicinal when they are able to ameliorate diseases and mostly this attribute is conferred on them by their Phytoconstituents alongside their nutrient content that help facilitate biological activities. Abehnoschus Esculentus rumoured to play ameliorative roles in the progression of diabetes mellitus type 2 possess phytochemical constituent similar to that in plants that play similar roles. This study elucidates both quantitatively and qualitatively the presence of phenolic compounds (1319.88 ± 21.10mg/100, 954.30 ± 31.00mg/100), flavonoids (164.5 ± 2.12mg/100, 111.46 ± 1.87mg/100), alkaloids (620.59 ± 5.54mg/100, 588.89 ± 29.73mg/100), tannins (18.01 ± 0.20mg/100, 15.30 ± 61mg/100), terpenoids (43.68 ± 21.95mg/100, 36.12 ± 2.12mg/100), glycosides (13.75 ± 0.25mg/100, 13.75 ± 0.19mg/100), carbohydrates, and reducing sugar in seed and fruit respectively with phenols and flavonoids having the highest quantity in both fruit and seed followed by carbohydrate, reducing sugar, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and steroids in a descending order respectively. The high phenol and flavonoid content suggests that its ability to play a role in decreasing the progression of diabetes mellitus type 2 lies on its ability to arrest oxidation of biomolecules through improvement of antioxidant status as these compounds are known to possess antioxidant capacities. Also identified is the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, crude fat, ash, moisture and crude fibre content in the dried samples of Abehnoschus Esculentus. However, the percentage composition ofnutrients varied in fruit and seed with some such as crude fat and protein being higher in seed than in the fruit while the others were higher in the fruit than the seed. It is in no doubt that the combined effect of the constituents of the plant is responsible for their therapeutic role in ameliorating diabetes mellitus type 2. Further research will elucidate more beneficial effects ofthis plant and how to exploit it for specific purposes