Phytochemical, Proximate, Mineral Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of the leaves of Gossypium hirsutum

The leaves of Gossypium hirsutum were analyzed for phytochemical, proximate, mineral compositions, and antioxidant activity. The free radical scavenging activity using DPPH procedure was used to determine the antioxidant activity of Gossypium hirsutum. The quantitative phytochemical screening revealed that G. hirsutum contained 34.00±1.10 mg/g alkaloids, cardiac glycosides 0.986±0.65 mg/g, 23.47±0.02 mg/g tannins, 50.82±0.02 mg/g total phenol, 38.73±0.01 mg/g saponins, and 182.51±0.10 mg/g flavonoids. Proximate analysis revealed that carbohydrate had the highest percentage in G. hirsutum 47.97± 0.00%. Crude fat had the lowest percentages of 7.11 ± 0.01%. Mineral analysis revealed that potassium had the highest concentration of 740.28±0.02 ppm while the least concentration of minerals in G. hirsutum was iron (39.08±0.02 ppm). The presence of carbohydrates, proteins and fat justifies that Gossypium hirsutum can be used as a good source of basic nutritional daily requirements. The high radical scavenging effect observed in the plant showed that it is a good source of natural antioxidant. The high amount of flavonoids, total phenol, saponins, alkaloids and tannins may be an indication of its high medicinal potential in treatment of certain diseases.