Phytochemical Screening, Elemental and Proximate Analysis of Maerua angolensis (Capparaceaea) Stem Bark

Abstract

This work was designed to explore the phytochemicals, elemental and proximate analysis of Maerua angolensis Stem bark were determined using standard analytical methods. The phytochemical screening showed alkaloid (271.30 mg /100 g), tannins (340.25 mg /100 g), flavonoid (176.85 mg /100 g), reducing sugar (41.20 mg /100 g), glycosides (184.30 mg /100 g), steroids (112.30 mg /100 g), anthraquinones (167.85 mg /100 g) and saponin (225.61 mg /100 g). Also the elemental analysis carried out revealed that the concentration of Manganese (0.02 9 mg/kg), Copper (0.059 mg/kg), Calcium (0.070 mg/kg), Sodium (7.530 mg/kg), Zinc (0.028 mg/kg), Chromium (0.158 mg/kg), Lead (0.007 mg/kg), Iron (0.100 mg/kg) and Magnesium (0.020 mg/kg). The result of the proximate composition showed  that the moisture, fat, crude protein, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate and energy value content of the samples were 3.58±0.04%, 6.25±0.09%, 21.79±0.26%, 48.51±2.31%, 13.28±1.86%, 6.60±1.79% and 169.81±8.49  kcal/100 g respectively. The pH value obtained was 5.65±0.09. These indicate that the plant can be effective source for drugs. The elemental and proximate analysis shows that it contained appreciable amount of nutrients which could be included in diets to supplement human daily nutrient needs and animal.