PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, NUTRITIVE AND ANTI- NUTRITIVE COMPONENTS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Senna obtusifolia LEAF AND SEEDS

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (blood sugar). This study is aimed at evaluating the phytochemical, proximate and anti-nutritive components of senna obtusifolia leaves and seeds. Normal standards were used to attain the proximate and anti-nutritive components of the leaves and seeds respectively. The proximate composition in percentage of senna obtusifolia seeds are: moisture content 20.16, ash 23.75, crude fat 3.90, crude protein 28.00 and carbohydrate 24.19. high proximate composition was recorded in crude protein, carbohydrate and ash content. While for the leaves, moisture content 24.86, ash 19.34, crude fat 5.11, crude protein 38.5 and carbohydrate 12.19. high proximate composition was seen in crude protein, moisture content and ash. Some of the values were within the expected range according to FAO 2019. The anti-nutrient composition in Senna obtusifolia leaves and seeds reads 205.95 and 271.62 in phytate, 163.00 and 145.00 in Oxalate, 0.07 and 0.03 in cyanide, 849.54 and 655.09 in Saponins and same value of 928.57 in both leaves and seeds for Tannins respectively. Some of the values shown here too are in accordance with the FAO 2019. Hence the result if the analysis shows that both the leaves and seeds of senna obtusifolia could serve as a good laxative, medicinal and therapeutic values for man if further processes are done to remove the inherent toxicants in the leaves and seeds.