Page 1 of 13

European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 12, No. 1

Publication Date: February 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/aivp.121.16196

Habiganuchi, A., Monago-Ighorodje, C., Olua, V., Amadi, C. S., Ibiama, B. G., Habiganuchi, O., & Ajie, B. I. (2024). Proximate and

Phytochemical Profile of Ethanol Extracts from Seeds and Pulps of Artocarpus. Heterophyllus. European Journal of Applied

Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 17-29.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Proximate and Phytochemical Profile of Ethanol Extracts from

Seeds and Pulps of Artocarpus. Heterophyllus

Habiganuchi, A.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt

Monago-Ighorodje, C.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt

Olua, V.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt

Amadi, C. S.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, Rivers State University

Ibiama, B. G.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, Rivers State University

Habiganuchi, O.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, Rivers State University

Ajie, B. I.

Department of Biochemistry,

Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt

ABSTRACT

The Proximate and phytochemical potentials of the seeds and pulp of Artocarpus

heterophyllus were evaluated to unravel reasons behind their wild usages locally

for treatment of several diseases. The phytochemical and proximate compositions

of the seed and pulp were determined using standard laboratory methods. The

result shows that in pulp, flavonoids (98.11ppm), were the highest phytochemicals

present, followed by alkaloids (24.86ppm), and Tannin (22.59). This shows that the

pulp contains more phytochemicals (234.19ppm) than the seeds (160.25). The

proximate profile gave maximum carbohydrate (%) for seed and pulp respectively

as 52.68 and 56.6, followed by protein (%) as 24.13 and 18.85 for seed and pulp.

This research work shows that it is clear that both the seed and pulp of

A.heterophyllus have essential potential ingredients that could be used in

Page 2 of 13

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom 18

European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 12, Issue 1, February-2024

management of several diseases, fungal and bacterial infections. The assayed

proximate profile showed high Carbohydrate, protein and fibre content. Making

this samples good carbohydrate, protein and fibre sources.

Keywords: Artocarpus Heterophyllus, Proximate Profile, Phytochemicals, Ethanol Extract

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal plants such as Artocarpus heterophyllus have been the basis of treatment of various

diseases in African traditional medicines as well as other forms of treatment from diverse

cultures of the world (Himal et al., 2008). About 80% of the world’s population still depends

solely on traditional or herbal medicine for treatment of diseases such as hepatitis, diabetics,

inflammations and ulcer, etc. mostly in Africa and other developing nations. Most of the

potential medicinal plants have relatively no toxic or adverse effects when used by humans,

while some are very toxic to both humans and animals with the potential of damaging certain

organs in the body. This calls for caution in the use of medicinal plants generally as most of

them are easily available, affordable, accessible and promises efficacy comparable to the

synthetic drug agents. The increase demand for herbal products coupled with the erroneous

impression by the people that herbal products are natural and thus less harmful to the body

has brought concern and fear over the quality, efficiency, efficacy and safety of some available

natural herbs. More over the toxicities of most commonly used herbal medicines have not been

reported and the ones reported are said to be aggressive in behavioural changes or

hypertension in chronic users. There have been confirmed cases of renal failure and liver

diseases associated with herbal medicine consumption in some country, Nigeria inclusive. The

medicinal value of plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a definite physiologic

action on the human body (Himal et al., 2008). The most important of these bioactive

compounds of plants include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds (Nwaichi

& Olua, 2015). The phytochemical research based on ethno-pharmacological information is

generally considered an effective approach in the discovery of new effective agents from higher

plants. Knowledge of the chemical constituents of plants is desirable, not only for the discovery

of therapeutic agents, but also because such information may be of value in disclosing new

sources of such economic materials as tannins, oils, gums, precursors for the synthesis of

complex chemical substances.

In addition, the knowledge of the chemical constituents of plants would further be valuable in

discovering the actual value of folkloric remedies. Hence this study seeks to determine the

proximate and phytochemical profile of Artocarpus heterophyllus seed and pulp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sampling and Sample Preparation

Fresh and disease-free seeds and pulps of A. heterophyllus were obtained from Obolo

community in Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. They were identified at the

Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt.

They were cut into smaller pieces for easy drying, after which they were air/sun dried for three

weeks. The dried seed and pulp were mashed and ground into powder using a blender

separately. The powdered samples were packaged in sterilized containers and labelled

Page 3 of 13

19

Habiganuchi, A., Monago-Ighorodje, C., Olua, V., Amadi, C. S., Ibiama, B. G., Habiganuchi, O., & Ajie, B. I. (2024). Proximate and Phytochemical Profile

of Ethanol Extracts from Seeds and Pulps of Artocarpus. Heterophyllus. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(1). 17-29.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.121.16196

appropriately before taking them to the laboratory for extraction using Soxhlet extraction

method with ethanol as solvent.

After extraction the solvent was removed from the thimble, typically by means of a rotary

evaporator, yielding the extracted compound. The non-soluble portion of the extracted solid

remains in the thimble, and was discarded. The weight of the extract was calculated after

deducting the original weight of the round bottom flask.

Weight of extract = 144.34g

The % yield was then calculated = weight of extract x 100 = 144.34 x 100 = 18.04%

weight of sample 800

Phytochemical Screening

Tannins:

Tannin’s content was extracted following modified method of Haslam (1966).

Phytate:

Phytate content was determined following modified method of Chitravadivu et al. (2009).

Oxalate:

Oxalate content was determined following methods described by Nwaichi and Olua (2015).

Phenolic Acid:

Phenolic acid was determined following protocols described by Kelley et al. (1994) and Provan

et el. (1994), Whitehead et al. (1983),

Flavonoids:

This was done according to the methods of Millogo-Kone, et al. (2009).

Proximate Analysis:

The proximate analysis of the samples for moisture, ash and carbohydrate contents were

determined as described by AOAC (2005). Crude protein, fibre and fat contents were

determined by the methods of Pearson (1976).

Statistical Analysis

All statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version

21.0. The obtained data were presented using charts depicting means of triplicate values from

analysed samples.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Ethno-botanical studies have shown the medicinal importance of. A. heterophyllus. Various

parts of A. heterophyllus have been reportedly used for healthcare management of diseases. The

present study was designed to investigate the phytochemical and proximate profile of seeds

and pulps of Artocarpus heterophyllus.