ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYTOCHEMICALS AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Psidium guajava LEAVES

Abstract

Guava is a tropical fruit tree with a rich history of traditional use for medicinal purposes. This study aimed to determine the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical and proximate composition of Guava leaves. The Guava leaves samples were obtained from Kumbiya-Kumbiya area of Gombe State, North Eastern Nigeria and brought to Gombe State University. The leaves were rinsed gently with distilled water, shade dried and ground in to a fine powder using laboratory mortar and pestle. They were packed in an air tight container and stored readily for further studies. The aqueous Guava leaves extract was prepared using maceration method. The study involved the use of standard methods for the determination of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, steroids and glycosides and proximate composition which are moisture, ash, fat, fibre, protein and carbohydrate content, and were also determined by AOAC (1990). The results of the study revealed that Psidium guajava leaves contain significant amounts of crude protein, crude fiber, ash, fat, moisture and carbohydrate which were found to be 2.55 %, 2.43 %, 3.22 %, 0.70 %, 8.52 % and 82.58 % respectively. The phytochemical screening of the leaves revealed the absence of steroids and the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones and glycosides which were found to be 0.49 %, 0.05%, 0.60 µg/ml, 2.78 µg/ml, 0.08 µg/ml and 3.55 µg/ml respectively. The high presence of these phytochemical constituents indicates that Psidium guajava leaves possess potential medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities. It was concluded that Psidium guajava leaves could be used as a natural source of medicine and nutrition.