Nutritional and Phytochemical Potential of Spilanthes Uliginosa (Sw) Leaves Uraku A.J* and Ogbanhi M.E
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Original Article Nutritional and Phytochemical Potential of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) Leaves Uraku A.J* and Ogbanhi M.E Department of Biochemistry, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria ABSTRACT Background: The use of plants to cure diseases is as old as the mankind and this therapeutic potential of plants lies in some chemical components that are present in plants that produce definite physiological and biochemical actions on the human body. Objectives: To investigate some nutritional and the phytochemical constituents of the leaves of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw). Methods: The phytochemical and proximate analyses of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) leaves were carried out using methods of AOAC. The leaves were assayed for contents of vitamins; A, C, E, B1, B2 and B3 using spectrophotometric methods while the mineral elements status were determined using AAS. Results: Results indicate carbohydrate, protein, fat, crude fibre, moisture and ash contents; 16.85%, 41.05%, 1.51%, 7.39%, 23.02 and 10.21% respectively. Vitamin and mineral analysis revealed the order folic acid > ascorbic acid > riboflavin > thiamin > β-carotene > α-tocopherol and Mn>Cu>K>Fe>Zn>Co>Ca>Na. The results of the phytochemical analyses revealed that the leaves contained various quantity of phytochemicals; alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, phytates, saponins, flavonoids and tannins recorded 2.150.50, 0.230.01, 51.500.85, 2.280.32, 4.310.01, 2.300.01, and 2.610.29 respectively. Conclusion: The leaves of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) contained numerous nutritional and phytochemical constituents. This study Address for therefore concludes that Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) is very nutritive Correspondence despite the presence of some anti-nutritive components such as glycosides, phytates and tannins. Department of The importance of medicinal plants to most developing countries Biochemistry, Ebonyi cannot be over emphasized. Plants have been used for the healing and State University, PMB curing of many human diseases or injuries for thousands of years. 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi However, in the present century this practice is being gradually State, Nigeria. dislodged by the introduction of synthetically derived drugs as well E-mail: as Western medical practices. Traditional therapies continue to be [email protected] practiced in all corners of the globe but largely under the harmony of a western biochemical model. Medicinal plants are of great American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics www.ajpct.org Uraku et al_________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 importance because of the following reasons: Many of the plants can provide an alternative to imported drugs, ie plants can provide new substances that are useful against diseases for which suitable cure are not yet available. Keywords: Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw), Phytochemicals, Proximate compositions. INTRODUCTION The use of plants for healing and Africa and South American tropics, but is treatment of diseases or injuries has gained distributed in tropics and sub-tropics of the considerable momentum in the world for world3. The genus occurs widely in damp thousands of years. However, in the present pastures, at swamp margins, on rocks near century this practice is being gradually the sea and as a weed of road sites4. The dislodged by the introduction of seed germinates vigorously in about 12 days synthetically derived drugs as well as under greenhouse condition (21-32oC). Western medical practices. The adverse Damp and cool conditions are held effects resulting from overuse of synthetic responsible for rotting of seeds. The plant is drugs has motivated mankind to go back to grown indoor, or in the greenhouse, so that nature for safer remedies. Traditional the seedlings become well established at the therapies are continued to be practiced in all time of transplanting to the garden1. corners of the globe but largely under the Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) is a heavy harmony of a Western biochemical model. feeder, preferring rich soils and an Medicinal plants are of great importance occasional side dressing of organic compost. because of the following reasons: many of As an ornamental, it is propagated by seed the plants can provide an alternative to or by stem-cuttings (Shanthi and Amudha, imported drugs, ie plants can provide new 2010). It is sold in markets in Madagascar substances that are useful against diseases throughout the year with peak supplies from for which suitable cure are not yet available. November-March. The leaf and buds may be Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw), commonly harvested continually as often as the plants known as Acmella uliginosa (Sw) is an can afford2. annual herb or short-lived perennial The plant is traditionally used in approximately half meter tall with erect Asia, Central and South America and in stems, sometimes decumbent1. It is not Africa as therapeutic diets5. The leaves and known from the wild2 and it is thought to parts thereof are used by indigenous have been derived through cultivation of herbalists in the treatment of various Acmella alba (L’Hér.). ailments such as toothache, headache, Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) belongs to convulsion/epilepsy, malaria, thyphoid a family Asteraceae and it is a short fever, tuberculosis, snake bites and in wound perennial herb in the tropics and sub-tropics. healing among others6. The plant also About sixty species of Spilanthes have been stimulates the salivary glands to produce reported from various parts of the world more saliva and may serve as a tonic for including India, and they have a healthy gums and oral flora3. It seems to characteristic flower head which distingui- boost production of leukcocyte and antiviral shes individual species. It originated in interferon suggesting that the plant may be AJPCT[3][02][2015] 111-119 Uraku et al_________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 useful in enhancing immune system according to the procedures of Association 1,7 9 function . In some countries, the plant is of Official Analytical Chemist (A.O.A.C,) . used as a salad material because of the conical and paleceous form of the Determination of vitamin and mineral receptacle8. contents Lack of information on the The leaf of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) nutritional and phytochemical contents of was assayed to determine the amount of many number of native plants with which vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2 and B9 using Nigeria is endowed with is partly Spectrophotometric method as described by responsible for their under-exploitation Okwu10 while minerals by atomic absorption especially in areas beyond the traditional Spectrophotometer (AAS) as described by localities where they are found and Onwuka11. consumed. Among the plants in which their nutritional and phytochemical analyses have Phytochemical analysis not been extensively studied are leaves of The phytochemical constituent of the Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw). leaf was carried out according to the method This paper therefore dealt with described by Amin et al12 and Trease and evaluating the phytochemical, proximate, Evans13. vitamin and mineral contents of the leaves All the analyses were done in of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw) grown in triplicate and all reagents and chemicals Nigeria. were of analytical standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Statistical analysis Three analytical determinations were Collection and preparation of Spilanthes carried out on each independent replication uliginosa (Sw) leaf extract for every parameter. Three independent The plant of Spilanthes uliginosa replicates (n = 3) were obtained from each (Sw) was collected from Ogboji-Agoutu treatment and the results presented in tables Ezzagu in Inyaba Development Centre of and are reported as means ± standard Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The plant was deviation (SD). Data were analyzed by t-test identified by Dr (Mrs) Nnamani, K. of the (P < 0.05). Department of Applied Biology of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. The leaf of the RESULTS plant was removed from plant stalk, rinsed with clean water and shade dried to a Table 1 showed the results of constant weight. The dried plant sample was proximate composition of Spilanthes ground to fine powder with grinding uliginosa (Sw) leaves and it indicates that machine, packaged in glass jars and stored at the leaves contained considerate amount of 4oC until analysis. carbohydrate, ash and crude fibre with high protein and moisture content and low level Proximate analysis of fat. This confirms that Spilanthes The samples were analyzed for uliginosa (Sw) is a good source of these proximate compositions which include nutrients. The results of the Vitamin moisture content, fat/oil, ash, protein, fiber Contents were presented in table 2. This and carbohydrate contents. Proximate showed that the leaves of Spilanthes contents of the leaves were determined uliginosa (Sw) has appreciable high amounts of vitamin contents in the order of AJPCT[3][02][2015] 111-119 Uraku et al_________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 folic acid > ascorbic acid > riboflavin > obesity and gastrointestinal tract diseases. It thiamin > β-carotene > α – tocopherol. Table is also an indication that it contains a 3 and 4 showed the results of mineral and proportion of cellulose, hemicellulose and antinutrient constituents in the plant leaves lignin. The lowest parameter was average fat respectively. The leaves contained high content value of 1.51% and this is universal levels of magnesium, copper and potassium stored form of energy in living organisms.