Article Sidebar
Published:
Dec 31, 2025Keywords:
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
NAJ supports free online communication and exchange of knowledge as the most effective way of ensuring that the fruits of research and development practice are made widely available. It is therefore committed to open access, which, for authors, enables the widest possible dissemination of their findings and, for readers, increases their ability to discover pertinent information. The Journal adopts and uses the CC: BY license and is open access. This license lets others distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Copyright for articles published in this Journal is retained by the Journal.
Main Article Content
Nutritive and Phytochemical Composition of Leaf, Root, and Bark of Nauclea latifolia Smith and their Relevance in Human and Animal Ethnopharmacology in Nigeria
Abstract
This study evaluated the nutritive, mineral, vitamin, and phytochemical composition of the leaf, root, and bark of Nauclea latifolia Smith, with emphasis on their ethnopharmacological relevance in human and animal health in Nigeria. Fresh samples of the plant parts were collected from a mature Nauclea latifolia Smith tree in an agroforestry plot at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Results revealed significant differences (P<0.05) among the plant parts in nutrient and bioactive compound composition. The root recorded the highest carbohydrate (67.46%) and energy value (308.29 kcal), while the leaf contained the highest protein (9.19%) and ash (8.93%) contents.
Mineral analysis showed that the leaf was richest in magnesium (185.62 mg/100g), phosphorus (287.14 mg/100g), and potassium (409.85 mg/100g), whereas the root contained the highest calcium (269.49 mg/100g), sodium (38.51 mg/100g), and iron (126.42 mg/100g) levels. The bark exhibited superior vitamin concentrations, including vitamin A (31.83 mg/100g), vitamin C (78.10 mg/100g), and vitamin E (21.59 mg/100g). Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed high levels of saponins (14.40 mg/100g), alkaloids (15.52 mg/100g), phenols (34.68 mg/100g), and flavonoids (23.74 mg/100g), predominantly in the bark and root. These bioactive compounds are known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. The biochemical diversity observed validates the plant’s traditional use in managing various ailments and underscores its potential in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical development. In conclusion, N. latifolia represents a valuable medicinal and nutritional resource whose conservation and sustainable utilization should be promoted through agroforestry integration and forest management programs across tropical Africa.
