Abstract
Leaves of <i>Luffa acutangular</i> are consumed in some parts of Nigeria as part of folk medicine for the treatment of diseases and as a vegetable food source. This study was undertaken to evaluate the phytochemical constituents from ethanol extracts, antimicrobial resistance, proximate and mineral analysis of its leaf extracts. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. The elemental analysis of the dried leaf revealed the presence of Calcium (58.6 mg/g), Copper (0.6 mg/g), Magnesium (12.4 mg/g), Manganese (0.9 mg/g), Zinc (0.6 mg/g), Sodium (14.4 mg/g) and Potassium (143.6 mg/g) respectively. The samples were screened against <i>Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyrogens, Klebsciella pneumonia, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis</i> for their anti-microbial activity using Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin and Fluconazole as control. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values were determined. Proximate analysis revealed moisture content of 10.6%, ash 6.3%, crude protein 2.6%, crude fiber 4.0%, fat 5.1% and carbohydrate content of 71.4%. The study showed that the leaf extract of <i>L. acutangular</i> may be used to manage some common diseases caused by the tested organisms. The major antimicrobial activity is tailored to the phyto-constituents. This confirms the folkloric use of the plants in the management of various diseases.
Highlights
In the past decade, clinical drug research programs have turned towards plants as a reservoir of untapped therapeutic agents, primarily used in orthodox medical practices by over 75% of global populace [1]
One of such crops is Luffa acutangular (L.) Roxb var. amara from the Cucurbitaceae family which is widely distributed across China, Korea, India, Japan and Central America and grows wildly in the western and north central parts of Nigeria where it is consumed as a vegetable [16]
This study explored the potential of an indigenous medicinal plant in the treatment of infections and its nutritional content towards encouraging the cultivation and consumption of the plant as food and to boost commercialization
Summary
Clinical drug research programs have turned towards plants as a reservoir of untapped therapeutic agents, primarily used in orthodox medical practices by over 75% of global populace [1] Such plants contain varied secondary metabolites; phyto-compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, terpernoids, minerals, etc which exhibit unique activities that are of pharmaceutical interest [2,3,4]. Reports indicate that food crops grown in the wild possess an array of minerals, micronutrients and therapeutic properties that are crucial towards combating nutritional deficiencies especially during periods of food scarcity, diseases, etc [14,15] One of such crops is Luffa acutangular (L.) Roxb var. This study was aimed at identifying the phytochemical, antimicrobial, nutritional and mineral composition of indigenous Luffa acutangular (L.) Roxb var. amara (sponge guard) obtained in Nigeria
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