Phytochemistry and proximate composition of root, stem bark, leaf and fruit of desert date, Balanites aegyptiaca

Abstract

Balanites aegyptiaca or Desert date is a common plant in all dry lands of Africa and South Asia. Some parts of the plant are used as fish poisons but not poisonous to man. It is also used as medicine or food in humans as well as insect repellent. Four parts of the plant were phytochemically and proximately screened to determine whether the bioactive compounds can be utilized in sedation or anaesthetization of fish as well as supplementation of fish nutrition. The root, stem bark, leaf and fruit of the plant were screened using petroleum ether, methanol, chloroform ethanol and water as solvents. Proximate analysis to determine proximate composition of the parts of the plant was also conducted. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkanoids, flavonoids, tanins, saponins, terpens & steroids, cardiac glycosides, balsam, carbohydrates, phenols in the root and fruit. There was absence of alkanoids, flavonoids, balsam, and carbohydrates in the stem bark. The leaf confirmed the aforementioned phytochemicals except cardiac glycoside. The proximate analysis showed low percentage crude protein composition in all the plant parts [Leaf (22.94%), fruit (15.63%), root (12.81%) and stem (6.94%)]. Moisture content of the plant was also low with fruit having the highest (4.56%) and the leaf with the lowest (2.69%). The results of this work provide evidence that the bioactive compounds of the root, leaf and fruit could be utilized in sedation and anaesthetization of fish while the proximate composition was not suitable for supplementation in fish nutrition.