Phytochemical, elemental and proximate analysis of methanolic root extract of Fadogia andasonii Robyn

Abstract

The presence of numerous bioactive phytoconstituents in plants is widely accepted for its therapeutic relevance in curing several diseases. Fadogia andersonii (F. andersonii) is an ethnomedicinal plant used to manage many diseases in Africa with limited information on its bioactive constituents. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the phytochemical constituents, elemental, and proximate analysis of F. andersonii root. This was carried out using standard procedures of Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), and proximate analysis of phytochemical constituents, functional groups, elemental, and proximate contents respectively. The GC-MS analysis reveals the presence of 40 different phytochemical constituents each with proven pharmacological activity. The FTIR analysis indicates the presence of hydroxyl, alkyl, alkene, carboxyl, and carbonyl functional groups. The AAS analysis for Fe, K, Mn, Zn, Ca, Na, and Cu in part per million (ppm) were 4.336, 38.00, 12.151, 17.388, 3.860, 18.00, and 0.020. Proximate analysis of F. andersonii root indicated the presence of Moisture (5.65 %), ash (4.33 %), lipid (6.19 %), fibre (35.23 %), and carbohydrate (45.10 %). This part of the plant  contains essential nutrients, and has potential health benefits.