Project Abstract

Abstract
The African pear (Dacryodes edulis) is a tropical fruit widely consumed in West and Central Africa due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical constituents and proximate composition of African pear to provide valuable information for its utilization in food and pharmaceutical industries. The fruits were obtained from a local market, and the extracts were prepared using standard methods. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides in the fruit extract. Quantitative analysis showed high levels of flavonoids and tannins, which are known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The proximate composition analysis indicated that African pear is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, making it a valuable source of energy and nutrients. The fruit also contained essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which are important for various physiological functions in the human body. Overall, the results of this study suggest that African pear is a promising natural resource with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Further research is recommended to explore the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed pharmacological activities and to develop innovative products using African pear extracts.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

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.

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.
 
 The phytoconstituents which are phenols, anthraquinones, 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
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