Potent antimalarial effectiveness of aqueous leaf extract of P. niruri plant was recently demonstrated in this laboratory. As a prelude to detailed mechanistic studies of this aqueous leaf extract, an in-house phytochemical, proximate and mineral compositional analyses of P. niruri leaf samples, by AOAC procedures were hereto undertaken. Results of phytochemical screening of the leaf samples revealed the presence of alkaloids, tanins, antraquinones, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. Proximate analysis showed percentage values of moisture, ash, crude fibre, ether extract, crude protein, nitrogen free extract and carbohydrate contents. Mineral compositional analysis revealed the presence (mg/l) of major and minor elements, Zn, Fe, Na, Mn, K, Mg, Ca, and Cu, in natural blend. These results show potentials of P. niruri leaf samples and suggesting it as a good source for mineral supplementation. These findings may also explain some basis of antimalarial properties of aqueous extract of P. niruri leaves.
Keywords: Phytochemical screening, aqueous leaf extract, phyllanthus niruri, proximate and mineral analyses
