Phytochemical Screening, Anti-nutritional and Mineral Composition of Telfairia occidetallis (Fluted Pumpkin) and Cleome rutidosperma (Fringe Spider Flower)

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate phytochemicals, anti-nutrients and mineral compostions of Telfeira occidentalis and Cleome rutidospermas leaves. The High Performance Chromatography (HPLC) was used in the Quantitative analysis of Phytochemicals as well as the anti-nutrient contents while the Elemental Compositions was analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (Buck Scientific). The antinutrients content analysed were as follows hydrocyanic acid (31.0±0.001 and 25.0±0.001), oxalate (570±0.004 and 740±0.003), phytic acid (7.50±0.002 and 9.20±0.005 mg/100 g), for T. occidentallis and C. rutidosperma respectively and  the values were all within the NAFADAC/WHO tolerable limit. The Minerals Compositions was found to be, Mn (1.684±0.40 and 0.718±0.31 mg/100 g), Zn (1.740±0.10 and 1.570±0.31 mg/100 g), Fe (3.823±0.03 and 4.329±0.01 mg/100 g), Na (2.572±0.42 and 2.659±0.80 mg/100 g), Ca (74.405±13.60 and 29.677±13.50 mg/100 g), Mg (35.277±10.05 and 12.438±10.4 mg/100 g), Cu (0.049±0.03 and 0.044±0.01 mg/100 g) for T.  occidentallis and C. rutidosperma respectively. The presences of some secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and some essential minerals shows that the plants can be alternative sources of medicine. The results of the antinutrients indicated that the samples are free of toxic substances which might cause ill health to the body. Though, the anti-nutrient contents found in both T. occidentallis and C. rutidosperma were low, it will still be safer if these leaves were boiled for about 5 to 15 minutes to reduce the anti-nutritional factors significantly.