Evaluation of pytochemicals and vitamins constituents of <i>Corchorus aestuans L.</i>

Abstract

This study evaluates the phytochemicals and vitamins constituents of Corchorus aestuans. The plant extracts were prepared by cold maceration using methanol as a solvent. Phytochemical screening was carried out using preliminary phytochemical tests and the vitamins was determined according to procedure outlined by Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemistry. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics. The qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannin, phenolic, saponin, alkaloid, flavonoid, trypsin, glycoside and carbohydrates while steroids, cardiac glycosides and triterpene are not presence. The quantitative phytochemical constituents of leaves of Corchorus aestuans indicated that alkaloid and flavonoid recorded the highest mean value of 2.973 and 0.131 mg/kg each, followed by carbohydrates with 0.99 mg/kg while phenolic was the least with a mean of 0.01 mg/kg. Vitamins composition of the leaves of Corchorus aestuans showed that vitamin C recorded the highest value of 8.82 mg/100g, followed by Vitamin E and Vitamin A (5.68 and 2.246 mg/100g) while Vitamin D (0.27mg/100g) is the least. The study concludes that leaves of Corchorus aestuans can serve as a good source of vitamins and used as herbs. Therefore, the study recommends that further study on pharmacological uses of C. aestuans should be carried out and include in the human diet to solve the problem of malnutrition.