Abstract:
In this study, leaves of woody plants (2-4 species) obtained in Nigeria between November and December 2001 was evaluated for their phytochemical and mineral contents using standard methods. To determine minerals, 0.5 g of each samples were dry ashed, dissolved in distilled water with few drops of conc. HCl and read on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Phytate and phytate P were analyzed by first extracting the samples followed by titrating with FeCl3, the values obtained were multiplied with standard factors (1.95 and 3.56, respectively) and qualitative methods were used for other tests. The study revealed presence of alkaloids, tannins, resins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, carbohydrate, sterols and flobatanin in most of the samples. The levels of phytate (mean = 692, SD = 212, CV% = 30.7) and phytate phosphorous (mean = 188, SD = 51, CV% = 27.4) were generally high and all leaves had more than 30% of their total phosphorus linked to phytate. These results compared with literature values. The concentrations of the mineral were found to be high. The result showed that with high phytate contents the bioavailability of minerals might be relatively low.
Francis Olawale Abulude , 2007. Phytochemical Screnning and Mineral Contents of Leaves of Some Nigerian Woody Plants. Research Journal of Phytochemistry, 1: 33-39.
