Assessment of Nutrients, Antinutrients and In Vitro Antioxidants Studies of Whole Leaf, and Leaf Extract of Azanza garckeana

Abstract Plants-derived functional foods have been a significant source of nutrients and medicinal compounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional values, antinutrients compositions, and in vitro antioxidants activities of methanolic leaf extract of Azanza garckeana. The analysis were carried out using standard analytical methods. Results of the proximate compositions were carbohydrates (69.18 %), protein (10.51 %), fats (7.33 %), fibres (5.27 %), moisture (4.38 %), and ash (3.57 %). The total energy value was 384.7 kcal/g. The vitamins analysis showed the presence of vitamin A (1.876±0.060 mg/100g), C (0.050±0.012 mg/100g), E (0.606±0.009 mg/100g), D (0.197±0.076 mg/100g), K (0.164±0.012 mg/100g), B1 (0.739±0.019 mg/100g), B2 (0.37±0.005 mg/100g), B3 (0.155±0.033 mg/100g), B6 (0.446±0.022 mg/100g) and vitamin B12 (0.157± 0.0026 mg/100g). The mineral compositions revealed the presence of sodium (815.287 ± 0.004 mg/100g), calcium (731.515 ± 0.003 mg/100g) and copper (1.048 ± 0.008 mg/100g). Antinutrients composition revealed phytate (1.567 ± 0.005 mg/100g), trypsin inhibitor (0.383±0.006 Tiu/mg), oxalate (0.867 ± 0.003 mg/100g), hemaglutinin (0.741 ± 0.004 Hui/mg), and saponins (0.546 ± 0.004 mg/100g). The antioxidants activity of the methanolic crude extract of A. garckeana leaf showed that the total antioxidants capacity (TAC) of the plant extract increased in concentration when compared to the standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid). While the methanolic leaf extract exhibited higher FRAP activity across all the concentrations when compared with the standard antioxidant - butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results of the present study showed that the evaluated leaves of A. garckeana plant is rich in nutritional values, have potent antioxidants and essential nutrients with therapeutics properties.