Determination of Mineral Composition, Anti-microbial Activity and Anti-nutrient Screening of Cleome gynandra (Cat’s Whiskers)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the mineral, anti-nutrients composition and the anti-microbial activity of the ethanol fraction of the leaf, stem and roots of Cleome gynandra. (Cat’s whiskers). Matured whole plant of C. gynandra, collected from Mubi North Local Government Area, Adamawa State Nigeria, extracted with 95% ethanol, showed presence of Ca, Na, Mg and Fe. Samples contained high Na and low Ca, Mg, and Fe concentrations. Heavy metals of Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu, and Pb, were not detected. The anti-microbial activity of the extract using agar diffusion method showed zones of inhibition (mm) against Salmonella typhi (11.00±0.1,8.00±0.1,9.00±0.1), Pneumonia spp (11.00±0.2,12.00±0.1, 8.00±0.2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (11.00±0.3,8.00±0.1,ND) and Staphylococcus aureus (8.00±0.1,11.00±0.2, & ND), for the leaf, stem and root respectively. The anti-nutrient component showed phytate and oxalate contents were less than is nutritionally significant, while tannins were in traces. Toxicological analysis could be done on the plant, for it has good medicinal potentials.