Phytochemical Screening, Proximate and Mineral Constituents of Triumfetta rhomboidea Leaves and Roots

This study investigated the proximate, mineral constituents and qualitative phytochemical screening of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves and roots. The study involved the collection of samples from Ekiti State University farm, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using standard analytical methods. Proximate analysis revealed that the leaves and roots of Triumfetta rhomboidea contained moisture (15.8 ±0.0, 15.2 ±0.1), crude protein (14.2 ±0.1, 10.2 ±0.0), crude fat (2.10 ±0.02, 0.92 ±0.04), ash (16.2 ±0.0, 12.2 ±0.1), crude fibre (9.14 ±0.04, 10.3 ±0.2), carbohydrate (42.6 ±0.1, 51.2 ±0.4) and energy (246, 254) content respectively. In addition, Na (44.7 ±0.2, 28.7 ±0.6), K (1203 ±3, 723 ±3), Mg (83.8 ±1.4, 41.2 ±0.3), P (896 ±4, 692 ±3), Ca (403 ±2, 294 ±2), Zn (11.0 ±0.1, 14.3 ±0.1), Mn (4.12 ±0.11, 2.92 ±0.06), Cu (2.42 ±0.02, 1.73 ±0.03, Cr (0.015 ±0.005, 0.045 ±0.005), were found in TRL and TRR while Cd and Pb were not detected in both samples. The phytochemical study showed that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves and roots contained phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and, reducing sugars. However, terpenoids were absent in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots of Triumfetta rhomboidea. Alkaloids and steroids were present in the aqueous and ethanolic extract of roots only. Terpenoids were absent in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots respectively with saponins not found in the ethanolic extract of the leaves only. Cardiac glycosides and phlobatannins were identified in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves only. These findings suggest that Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves and roots may have potential health benefits and could be used as natural sources of important nutrients and phytochemicals. The plant parts considered in the present study can be very useful in the development of either therapeutic or prophylactic medicine and can also be good sources of supplements in foods. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of Triumfetta rhomboidea and its components in different contexts.