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