Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical screening and Antimicrobial Properties of the Leaf of Ficus exasperata (Vahl)

Abstract

The leaf of Ficus exasperata was studied for proximate , mineral , antinutrients, phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity. Results obtained for proximate composition showed that the leaf was rich in carbohydrate (38.73%), crude protein (16.85%), crude fat (13.75%), ash (11.76%), Moisture (10.65%) and crude fibre (8.26%) which were within the range expected for dry leaf vegetable. Antinutrients screening revealed the level of bioactive compounds in the leaf comprising of phytate (112.82%), Oxalate (4.502mg/100g), flavonoids (3.21%), cyanide (0.543mg/kg) and tannins (0.207mg/ml). It contains mminerals such as Ca (500.00ppm), P (217.65ppm), mg (187.20ppm), Fe (168.20ppm). The phytochemicals present were flavonoids, saponins, ccardiac glycosides and aalkaloids. Suscetibility of Salmonella typhi , Escherichia coli ,Enterococus feacalis and Klebsiella pneumonia to ethanolic, ethyl acetate and aqueous-chloroform extracts of the leaf showed that the ethanolic extract contained bioactive substances.