Abstract
Medicinal plants are a pertinent and effective remedy, employed in indigenous healthcare systems by traditional healers. This study focused on proximate parameters, minerals, vitamins, anti-nutrients and essential oil of the root and leaf of the medicinal plant; R. crispus, using the standard food analysis techniques. The result reveals that the moisture content of the leaf (7.57 ± 0.40%) and root (7.59 ± 0.08%) was not significantly different. The leaf has a higher ash, crude fat, fibre and mineral content than the root, except the carbohydrate (57.74 ± 3.06%) and Ca (1190.0 ± 0 mg/100g) values which are quite higher in the root. Traces of phytate was found in the leaf (1.15 ± 0.74%) and root (1.38 ± 0.27%) of R. crispus. The highest value of retinol, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol was found in dried leaf (1.29 ± 0.014 mg retinol/100g), fresh leaf (159.73 ± 26.77 mg ascorbic acid/100g) and fresh root (54.90 ± 0.39 mg α-tocopherol/100g) respectively. The principal compound in the essential oil of the leaf are; 5-Eicosene, (E)-, docos-1-ene, trans-5-Octadecene, tetradecane while those found in the root are; 1-Heptacosanol, 4-Methyloctane, ethylcyclohexane, eucalyptol, m-Xylene, octadecane, phytol, and tetradecane. The research reveals that R. crispus may not only be used for medicinal purposes but could also be suitable for a complementary diet.
Highlights
The use of medicinal plants for therapy and other uses has always been part of human culture.The first records of the use of herbal medicine being acknowledged dated back 5000 years in China.On the other hand, India’s Ayurvedic traditional herbal medicine is believed to have been practiced for more than 5000 years [1]
The uses of a particular species of plant for a specific ailment are similar across a geographical region and today, a large population of certain countries still depends on herbal remedies for their healthcare needs
Medicinal plants are of great economic importance, especially in the area of health improvement [2] and they play a significant role in drug development
Summary
The use of medicinal plants for therapy and other uses has always been part of human culture.The first records of the use of herbal medicine being acknowledged dated back 5000 years in China.On the other hand, India’s Ayurvedic traditional herbal medicine is believed to have been practiced for more than 5000 years [1]. The use of medicinal plants for therapy and other uses has always been part of human culture. The first records of the use of herbal medicine being acknowledged dated back 5000 years in China. India’s Ayurvedic traditional herbal medicine is believed to have been practiced for more than 5000 years [1]. People have been so close to nature (the environment) and they rely on its fauna and flora as a source of medicine and food [2]. The uses of a particular species of plant for a specific ailment are similar across a geographical region and today, a large population of certain countries still depends on herbal remedies for their healthcare needs.
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