COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, NUTRITIONAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL POTENTIALS OF THE STEMS OF THREE NIGERIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS, Ipomoea alba Lam., Ipomoea nil Roth. Ipomoea batatas Lam.)
*U. A. Essiett, K. N. Anderson and D. N. Bala
ABSTRACT
The mature stems of Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea alba and Ipomoea batatas
were investigated for their phytochemical constituents, quantitative,
nutritional and anti-nutritional values. The phytochemical screening
revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids in
the mature stems of the three species. Cardiac glycosides was present
in I. nil but absent in I. alba and I. batatas, free anthraquinone and
combine anthraquinone was absent in I. nil but present in I. alba and
I. batatas. Nutrient composition revealed lipids: 1.0%, 1.2%, 4.1%, crude fibre: 23%, 30%,
37%, crude protein: 16.01%, 7.0%, 4.0%, carbohydrate 60%, 57%, 40%, moisture content:
4.0%, 2.0%, 7.10%, ash content: 4.0%, 2.0%, 1.5%, sulphated ash: 0.7%, 0.5%, 1.0%, acid
insoluble ash: 0.2%, 0.1%, 2.0%, for I. alba, I. nil and I. batatas respectively. Anti-nutrient
composition for phytic acid: 0.0002 mg/100g, 0.0002 mg/100g, 0.0001 mg/100g, tannic acid:
0.003 mg/100g, 0.0004 mg/100g, 0.0007 mg/100g, oxalate: 0.12 mg/100g, 0.0021 mg/100g,
0.0007 mg/100g, cyanogenic glycoside: 0.001mg/100g, 0.0002 mg/100g, 0.0001 mg/100g
for I. alba, I. nil and I. batatas stems respectively were low. This result reveals that the
mature stems contain an appreciable amount of nutrient and low level toxicants and could be
included in diet to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body. It also indicates that the mature stem extract possess antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor, antiviral activities
which explains its use in human medicine.
Keywords: Convolvulaceae, Ipomoea, species, phytochemical screening, proximate, mature stem.
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