Comparative Study on the Phytochemical Screening and Chemical Composition of Chrysophyllum albidum and Anacardium occidentale Leaves Cultivated in South-western Nigeria

Abstract

Using standard methods, using standard methods, the proximate composition, phytochemical screening, and mineral analyses were carried out on Chrysophyllum albidum and Anacardium occidentale leaves. The results of proximate composition showed that Anacardium occidentale leaves contain a significantly higher amount of crude protein (13.95%), crude fat (8.96%), crude fiber (14.97%), ash content (3.48%) and carbohydrate content (43.84%) compared to the respective values of 7.37%, 3.54%, 2.97%. 2.02% and 32.56% for Chrysophyllum albidum. However, the moisture content of Chrysophyllum albidum was higher than Anacardium occidentale. The phytochemicals detected in the ethanolic leaf extracts of Chrysophyllum albidum were flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycoside, tannins, triterpenoid, saponin, and reducing sugar. However, triterpenoids and cardiac glycosides were absent in Anacardium occidentale leaves. The concentrations of all mineral elements were high, with Calcium having the highest concentration of all minerals in both leaves. As a result, the findings suggest that both leaves could serve as a source of highly nutritious feed and phytomedicine. Given the plant's diverse ethnopharmacological uses in various parts of the world, they are of nutritional, clinical, and veterinary importance.