Phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of ethanolic leaves extract of Cassia tora

Kamal Ja’afar Muhammad

Abstract

Cassia tora is a leguminous plant belonging to the family Fabaceae and are used for the treatment of lepsory, psoriasis, ringworm, ulcers, skin diseases and as a laxative and antiasthenic. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract of Cassia tora was carried out using standard methods while the nutritional values were studied for moisture content, ash content, crude lipids, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrates. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaves indicated the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, steroids/triterpenoids, fats, tannins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, phlobatannins and glycosides. The proximate analysis of the leaves revealed that it contained crude fat 6.01%, crude fibre 7.54%, moisture 10.23%, ash content 15.01%, crude protein 27.34% and carbohydrate 33.69%. Cassia tora leaves could be a potential source of nutritional and mineral elements that may be useful in nutrition. The phytochemicals observed in this study explained the medicinal action of the plant encountered in its therapeutic uses. The study demonstrated that, Cassia tora leaves could serve as an important source of nutrition and ethno medicine for animals and humans.

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