QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF THE LEAF OF ANNONA MURICATA

Nwaehujor Idorenyin Ugochi*, Lawal Israel Oluwasanmi, Akande Samuel Adesayo

Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, P.M.B. 1489, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In recent years, interest has increased in the utilization of therapeutic plants since herbal remedies have been publicized to be safe and without adverse side reaction as synthetic drugs. The goal of this research was to perform qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluation and also to examine the mineral contents of Annona muricata leaf collected in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Annona muricata leaf was dried at room temperature. Cold extraction method was employed to obtained crude extracts with solvents of varying polarities. Hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol were utilized. Mineral determination was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Phytochemicals from the leaf extracts were; saponins, phenols, tannins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and alkaloids. All the samples showed high content of alkaloids and saponins. Mineral evaluation of the leaf showed that Calcium had highest concentration in the leaf, (6.7 mg/g) while Iron, Manganese, Copper and Zinc were also detected. Annona muricata leaf contain important phytochemicals, as such, the leaf is a potential source of new bioactive compounds. Due to the high concentration of Calcium in the leaf, the leaf can serve as herbal supplement for patient with high blood pressure.

Keywords:

Annona muricata, phytochemical, mineral, medicinal, extract