PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF AIR DRIED AND FRESH SAMPLES OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA LEAF

Phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of extracts of air dried and fresh samples of vernonia amygdalina leaves obtained from Jere local gov’t area of Borno State was carried using smart spectrophotometer and other standard methods. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Carbohydrate was found to be absent in the general test, so also for monosaccharides, free reducing sugar, combined reducing sugar and pentoses, only ketose was present in this family. The elemental contents analysed in the samples are sodium; dry (74.0 mg/l) and fresh (96.0 mg/l), Zinc; dry (0.35mg/l) and fresh (0.22 mg/l), Calcium; dry (1.12 mg/l) and fresh (2.15 mg/l), Nickel; dry (0.35 mg/l) and fresh (0.21 mg/l), Manganese; dry (0.02 mg/l) and fresh (0.03mg/l). The samples were also analyzed for some of their physical properties such pH; [dry- (10.10)] and [fresh- (12.70)], conductivity; [dry- (3.84 µs/Cm) and fresh- (6.21 µs/Cm)], Turbidity; [dry (58 FTU) and fresh (10 FTU)] and color; [dry (68.40 Cu) and fresh- (72.0 Cu)]. In view of these results obtained, it may be concluded that V. amygdalina has medicinal potential and also contained the essential elements estimated in remarkable concentration, and hence can be consumed as food or food supplement.