Phytochemical and proximate composition of petroleum ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaf, seed, stem and bark of Azadirachta indica

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Abstract

The plants and extracts contain active secondary metabolites responsible for various biological and physiological activities in living beings. Three extraction solvents applied on the ground seeds, leaves, stems and barks part of Azadirachta indica were analysed for proximate and phytochemicals using Association of Official Analytical Chemists, AOAC International standard procedures. The results of proximate analysis revealed significantly different (p<0.05) ranges of ash content (4.8 – 10.4%), crude fat (10.2 – 12.0%), fibre(12.0 – 15.6%), protein (11.9 – 14.0%) and carbohydrate (53.6 – 57.5%) accordingly. The dried seed kernel contained the highest amounts of crude fat, fibre and protein. However, the leaf and stem samples contained highest ash and carbohydrate contents respectively. The results showed a significant difference for all samples. The phytochemicals observed were saponins, tannis, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthracene and cryogenic glycosides. There was a strong indication of the phytochemical’s presence in the leafy and seed samples, where saponins appeared in higher concentrations.This study has provided a baseline for the applicability of petroleum ether, PET as a better extraction solvent in the derivation of phytochemicals in the plants. Petroleum ether is less hygroscopic and more selective for hydrophobic lipids and organic compounds.

Keywords: Azadirchta indica, Solvent Extracts, Phytochemicals, Proximate, Secondary metabolites

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