DETERMINATION OF PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, MINERAL NUTRIENT CONTENT, AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF DEVIL BEAN (Mucuna pruriens) LEAVES
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Abstract
The study investigated the proximate composition, phytochemical constituents, mineral nutrient content, and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous leaf decoction of Mucuna pruriens, a plant of notable ethnomedicinal importance in Nigeria. Analyses were
conducted using standard procedures. Proximate evaluation revealed 7.17% ash, 18.43% carbohydrates, 9.67% crude fat, 18.52% crude fibre, 37.88% crude protein, and 8.33% moisture, confirming the leaf as a protein- and fibre-rich nutritional resource.
Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, eugenols, and reducing sugars, while saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides were not detected. Mineral analysis indicated appreciable levels of sodium (1343.67 mg/kg), potassium (1018 mg/kg), calcium (238.33 mg/kg), magnesium (377 mg/kg), copper (23.33 mg/kg), iron (336.67 mg/kg), zinc (29.67 mg/kg), manganese (106.67 mg/kg), and nickel (11.33 mg/kg). Antimicrobial assays demonstrated
concentration-dependent inhibition of Escherichia coli (15.0 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (14.1 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.0 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.0 mm) at 100 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 25 mg/mL for all isolates, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 25 mg/mL for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, but 75 mg/mL for E. coli. These findings validate the traditional medicinal use of M. pruriens leaves and demonstrate that decoction, a safe and culturally relevant extraction method, yields a nutritionally valuable, mineral-rich, and bactericidal extract with potential therapeutic applications
conducted using standard procedures. Proximate evaluation revealed 7.17% ash, 18.43% carbohydrates, 9.67% crude fat, 18.52% crude fibre, 37.88% crude protein, and 8.33% moisture, confirming the leaf as a protein- and fibre-rich nutritional resource.
Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, eugenols, and reducing sugars, while saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides were not detected. Mineral analysis indicated appreciable levels of sodium (1343.67 mg/kg), potassium (1018 mg/kg), calcium (238.33 mg/kg), magnesium (377 mg/kg), copper (23.33 mg/kg), iron (336.67 mg/kg), zinc (29.67 mg/kg), manganese (106.67 mg/kg), and nickel (11.33 mg/kg). Antimicrobial assays demonstrated
concentration-dependent inhibition of Escherichia coli (15.0 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (14.1 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.0 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.0 mm) at 100 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 25 mg/mL for all isolates, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 25 mg/mL for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, but 75 mg/mL for E. coli. These findings validate the traditional medicinal use of M. pruriens leaves and demonstrate that decoction, a safe and culturally relevant extraction method, yields a nutritionally valuable, mineral-rich, and bactericidal extract with potential therapeutic applications
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