Comparative phytochemical and proximate analyses on Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn. and Bombax buonopozense (P) Beauv.

Abstract

This research work reports the comparative Phytochemical and proximate analyses on two plants; Ceiba pentandra [L] Gaertn and Bombax buonopozense [P] Beauv both of the family Malvaceae formerly Bombacaceae. The study however, revealed the presence of phytochemical components such as Tannin, alkaloids, saponin, cyanogenic glycosides, steroids, flavonoids and phenols. In Ceiba pentandra the highest phytochemical compound was glycosides [18.71±2.0] present in the leaves and phenol was the lowest [0.04±0.01] present in the root, likewise in Bombax buonopozense, the highest phytochemical compound was glycosides [14.25±1.07] found in the leaves while the least was phenol [0.05±0.001] also found in the root. Moreover, their proximate values were also established, with both plants having carbohydrate as their highest proximate content [40.59±0.71] and [38.05±0.9] respectively found in their stems and the least was fat [0.69±0.02] and [0.62±0.015] found in the roots of the both plants. In addition, the work tried to establish the mineral content of the plants, minerals like potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium were tested for, although found in minute quantities.