The phytochemical, proximate and mineral content of leaf and bark of
Njangsa (
Ricinodendron Heudelotii
) plant were analysed, using standard procedures
described by Harbone, 1973, Sofowora, 1993; Trease and Evans, 1989 and Association of
Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) Official method, 1990; 1984 respectively. The
preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, steroids,
terpernoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars and saponins found
only for the plant bark. The result of proximate analysis showed that the leaf and bark of
the extract contain respectively: moisture content (25.80% and 10%), protein (17.47% and
3.73%), crude fat(1.80% and 2.00%) ash (11.00% and 10.95%), crude fibre (41.00% and
20.50%) carbohydrate (2.93% and 52.82%).The mineral analysis of the plant leaf and bark
respectively yielded calcium – 2640.00 mg/kg and 1772 mg/kg, magnesium – 2383 mg/kg
and 1605 mg/kg, iron – 25.00 mg/kg and 6.6 mg/kg, zinc – 29.30 mg/kg and 4.4 mg/kg,
copper – 14.60 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg and phosphorus – 1012 mg/kg and 305 mg/kg.
Manganese was absent in the bark but yielded 1.1 mg/kg in the leaf. Sodium and
potassium were found to be absent in the leaf and bark. The presence of some
phytochemicals (flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugar, tannins and terpernoids)
and some essential minerals suggest that it is a potential source of medicine and food. © JASEM
