PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES IN Telfairia occidentalis AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT.
USUNOBUN, U. AND EGHAREBVA, E.
ABSTRACT
The present study sought to undertake the phytochemical analysis (using standard methods of analysis), proximate and mineral composition as well as in vitro antioxidantproperties (involving inhibition of DPPH and reducing power ability) of aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis consumed in Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaf of T. occidentalis contains
flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and phenolics. Quantitative analysis showed that phenol, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins in percentage were 0.19±0.12, 7.12±0.50, 0.12±0.08, 1.03±0.24 and 7.01±0.30 respectively. Result on proximate analysis showed 89.01% dry matter, 10.99% moisture content, 21.14% crude protein…