PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, NUTRIENT AND ANTI-NUTRIENT PROPERTIES OF IPOMOEA INVOLUCRATA P. BEAUV.
*U. A. Essiett and E. G. Asaka
ABSTRACT
The stems, leaves and petals (flowers) of Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv. were screened for their phytochemical constituents, nutrients and anti-nutrient properties. The phytochemical analysis of the leaves, stem and petals (flowers) revealed that, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones were present in all the plant parts. This suggests the anti-malarial, antifungal, antibacterial and antiasthmatic properties of the plant. Ipomoea involucrata was assessed for its nutritional and anti-nutritional values and it revealed that the content of carbohydrate was high for the leaves (71.9%) and low for the petals (flowers) (46.50%), which implies that the plant may have potential for providing energy. The crude protein indicated that the leaves had 10.5% and the petals (flowers) had 2.02% which is required for the maintenance of tissues.
Keywords: Ipomoea involucrata, phytochemical, nutrients, antinutrients, Convolvulaceae, leaves, stems and petals.
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