PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF AQUEOUS stem bark EXTRACT OF Vitellaria paradoxa (SHEA NUT TREE)

Abstract

Abstract Since the beginning of time, plants have been recognized for their several lifesaving and therapeutic properties. The aim of this research work was to screen and determine phytochemical contents and mineral composition of the aqueous stem bark extract of Shea nut tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). The secondary metabolites screened were flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, Steroids, saponins glycosides, balsams, Anthraquinones, Cardiac glycosides and Volatile oils respectively. Alkaloids content was found to be (18.26±0.35g%), followed by Flavonoids (4.88±0.12g%), Saponins (2.88±0.11g%), Glycosides (0.44±0.06g%) and lastly, Tannins (0.03±0.01g%). It was also observed that the plant contains minerals that are of Nutritional importance and these includes Potassium (25.55±0.39mg/l), Sodium (15.39±0.09mg/l), Magnesium (2.57±0.05mg/l), Phosphorus (0.62±0.05mg/l), and Calcium (0.59±0.01mg/l). These results demonstrated that the plant may have high medicinal and nutritional importance hence the reason why the plant is used in treatment of various ailments in most African Countries.