Assessment of the phytochemical constituents and proximate composition of african peer

Project Abstract

African pear (Dacryodes edulis) is a tropical fruit widely consumed in West Africa. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical constituents and proximate composition of African pear. The fruit samples were obtained from local markets in Nigeria and analyzed for their phytochemical constituents using standard procedures. The proximate composition of the fruit, including moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrate content, was determined. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenols in the fruit. The total phenolic content was found to be relatively high, indicating the potential antioxidant properties of African pear. The proximate analysis showed that African pear has a moderate moisture content and low ash content, indicating its potential as a source of dietary fiber and essential nutrients. The fruit was found to be rich in crude fat and carbohydrates, which are important sources of energy. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that African pear is a rich source of phytochemicals and essential nutrients, making it a valuable addition to the diet. Further research is recommended to explore the potential health benefits of African pear and to investigate its potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Project Overview

<p> </p><div><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong><em>1.1 Background of the Study</em></strong></p><p>Plants are important in our everyday existence. They provide our foods, produce the oxygen we breathe, and serve as raw materials for many industrial products such as clothes, foot wears and so many others. Plants also provide raw materials for our buildings and in the manufacture of biofuels, dyes, perfumes, pesticides, adsorbents and drugs.</p><p>The plant kingdom has proven to be the most useful in the treatment of diseases and they provide an important source of all the world’s pharmaceuticals. The most important of these bioactive constituents of plants are steroids, terpenoids, carotenoids, flavanoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Plants in all facet of life have served a valuable starting material for drug development (Ajibesin, 2011). Antibiotics or antimicrobial substances like saponins, glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids etc are found to be distributed in plants, yet these compounds were not well established due to the lack of knowledge and techniques.<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;The phytoconstituents which are phenols, <strong>anthraquinones,</strong>&nbsp;alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and saponins are antibiotic principles of plants. Plants are now occupying important position in allopathic medicine, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and aromatherapy. Medicinal plants are the sources of many important drugs of the modern world. Many of these indigenous medicinal plants are used as spices and food plants; they are also sometimes added to foods meant for pregnant mothers for medicinal purposes ( Akinpela and Onakoya, 2006). Many plants are cheaper and more accessible to most people especially in the developing countries than orthodox medicine, and there is lower incidence of adverse effects after use. These reasons might account for<br>their worldwide attention and use. The medicinal properties of some plants have been documented by some researchers ( Akinpelu and Onukoya, 2006). Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and communities. It was the advent of antibiotics in the 1950s that led to the decline of the use of plant derivatives as antimicrobials (Marjorie, 1999). Medicinal plants contain physiologically active components which over the years have been exploited in the traditional medical practices for the treatment of various ailments (Ajibesin, 2011). A relatively small percentage of less than 10% of all the plants on earth is</p><p></p></div><h3></h3><br> <br><p></p>