Comparative Evaluation of Nutritional and Phytochemical Profiling of Seeds and Leaves of Dennettia tripetala for Pharmacological Applications

Medicinal herbs and plant foods have long been recognized as major sources of nutrients and bioactive constituents that fight disease and promote good health. There is a need to explore the nutritional potential and nutraceutical value of plants; hence, this study assesses and compares the nutritional and phytochemical profiles of pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala) seeds and leaves using standard analytical procedures. The results of the proximate analysis show that the leaves contain 11.13% moisture,5.17% ash, 7.65% fat, 9.18% crude fiber, 15.21% protein, and 51.66% carbohydrate, while the seeds contain 10.77% moisture, 4.84% ash, 4.52% fat, 8.31% crude fiber, 12.85% protein, and 58.71% carbohydrate. Mineral analysis shows that the seeds contain potassium (362.40 ppm), calcium (116.65 ppm), sodium (102.55 ppm), magnesium (28.29 ppm), zinc (1.25 ppm), iron (0.55 ppm), and copper (0.51 ppm), while the leaves contain potassium (415.60 ppm), calcium (190.65 ppm), sodium (81.65 ppm), magnesium (33.53 ppm), zinc (1.78 ppm), iron (0.88 ppm), and copper (0.33 ppm). Phytochemical screening showed that the seeds and leaves contain alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides. However, saponins, steroids, and anthraquinones were present in the seeds but absent in the leaves, while reducing sugars were present only in the leaves. In addition, phlobotannins were absent in both the seeds and leaves. The findings revealed that both the seeds and leaves of D. tripetala are vital sources of phytochemicals and nutrients. The seeds show distinct bioactive constituents that support their therapeutic uses, while the leaves show more robust nutraceutical properties that contribute to their nutritional value. Based on the plant’s ethnomedicinal uses, this work supports and provides information on the use of Dennettia tripetala parts such as the leaves and seeds in nutritional, pharmacological, and health applications.