- 期刊
- OpenAccess
Proximate and Phytochemical Composition of Moringa oleifera Leaves at Three Stages of Maturation
並列摘要
The aim of the study is to determine the proximate and anti-nutrient composition of dried leaves of Moringa oleifera harvested at different stages of the plants maturity. The leaves were harvested at three period of time viz: 10th (early stage), 15th (Mid stage) and 20th (late stage) week after pruning. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that the early stage has the highest carbohydrate content (55.14%). Mid stage recorded the highest moisture (6.3%) while the late stage has highest protein content (28.08%), crude fiber (10.11%), ash (9.25%), fat (2.5) and pH (6.27). The Phytochemicals detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts of each of the different stage of leaves maturation were the same except for tannin which was present in aqueous extract but was not detected in methanolic extracts. The detected antinutrients are alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, steroids while phylobatanin and tripertenes were not. All these results indicate that the leaves harvested at the late stage had a higher percentage of imbedded nutrients than others, it was therefore concluded that harvesting at that stage is recommended. The presence of some phytochemicals like saponins and flavonoids explained the medicinal action of the plant encountered in its therapeutic uses.