Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences, 2017, v. 4, No. 7, p. 25-34. ISSN 2358-2731 https://dx.doi.org/10.21472/bjbs.040704 Comparative study of leaf morphology, phytochemical, mineral and proximate analysis of Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss. (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) and its stable mutant Esan Edward Babatunde¹, Adaramola Feyisara Banji¹,*, Odutayo Foluke¹, Aina David Ayandiran² and Kotun Fatima¹ ¹Department of Basic Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan- Remo Ogun State, Nigeria. Email: *Email: [email protected]. ²Department of Microbiology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo Ogun State, Nigeria. Abstract. Differences in terms of morphology, phytochemical, mineral and proximate compositions created as a result of a natural Received spontaneous mutation that produced a stable bud-sport on the January 25, 2017 vegetative parent body of a member of the Euphorbiacea Family Codiaeum variegatum cv. ovalifolium was compared. Morphological Accepted characterization of the leaves was done by leaf skeletonization, June 10, 2017 proximate and mineral analyzes were carried out by method of Association of Official Analytical Chemists while the phytochemical Released screening was carried out on 80% methanol extracts of the leaves June 30, 2017 using standard methods. From the results of the morphological characteristics, the mutant showed more vegetative vigor than the Open Acess Full Text Article parent plant. Results of phytochemical screening showed that; while flavonoid was absent in both, cardiac glycosides and tannins were highly present in the parent but slightly present in the mutant. For both mutant and the parent, calcium had the highest concentration. Copper was absent in the parent while it occurred at the lowest concentration in the mutant. Also, the concentrations of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and zinc were higher in the parent plant. Results of proximate composition of the plants showed that both mutant and the parent plant have high nutritive values. Conclusively, the morphological characters of the mutant were shown to distinctly ORCID differ from those of the parent plant. Also, both the mutant and its 0000-0003-1713-3670 parent plant showed considerably good amount of important Esan Edward Babatunde phytochemicals, minerals and proximate compositions, making them 0000-0001-5581-8377 good prospects for food and medicine. Adaramola Feyisara Banji 0000-0001-5367-3469 Keywords: Garden croton; Mineral; Morphology; Mutant; Odutayo Foluke Phytochemical; Proximate. 0000-0002-4373-2530 Aina David Ayandiran 0000-0002-4325-8170 Kotun Fatima Introduction a cell produced by the union of an egg cell with a sperm cell (fertilization). The zygote The story of plant evolution is grows and develops into the embryo and mainly of gradually improving adaptation finally into a fully mature plant. In the very to life on land (Taylor et al., 2002). A plant young embryo, there is already a polarized begins its life cycle as a one-celled zygote, differentiation into an axis composed of a ISSN 2358-2731/BJBS-2017-0003/4/7/4/25 Braz. J. Biol. Sci. http://revista.rebibio.net 26 Babatunde et al. root and a shoot with leaves attached to a powerful ammunition in the fight against stem. A typical leaf consists of at least nine many health disorders and especially parts (Dutta, 2004). The parts of a leaf cancer. To understand how phytochemicals include: the leaf-base, which is the protect the body from cancer, it is necessary attachment to the stem, the petiole, which is to understand that cancer formation is a the leaf stalk and which may have swollen multistep process. Phyto-compounds top and or bottom, known as the pulvinus. seemingly combact cancer by interfering A mutation is usually defined as a with one or more of the steps that lead to permanent genetic change involving some cancer (Balch and Balch, 2000). part of the DNA molecule; thus producing a Proximate analysis is to determine mutant of the parent plant. Mutations are the total estimation of moisture, lipids spontaneous natural occurrences of changes (fats), ash (mineral), protein, carbohydrate as an integral process of evolution and fiber that is present in a food. Some (Konokpa and Benzer, 1971). detailed information has been provided on Horticulturists commonly refer to this as a Codieaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss. “bud-sport” or “bud-mutation’’. Mutation (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae), more occurs spontaneously in various ways popularly known as the garden croton, and namely; chance rearrangement of the four the enormity of leaf diversity with respect bases in the DNA structure (point to leaf shape, size, color(s) and color mutation); rearrangement of different parts combinations and especially frequent of the chromosome (deletions, duplication, occurrence of mutants (bud-sport, sports or translocation and inversions); addition or bud mutant) (Esan et al., 2005). However, subtraction of individual chromosomes Taylor (1938) had earlier stated that there (aneuploidy) or the multiplication of entire were probably only six known basic species sets of chromosomes (polyploidy). Most of Codieaum sp. from which all other mutations are deleterious, but occasionally cultivars known today have arisen mainly a bud-sport may possess some horticultural as mutants and rarely as hybrids and that merits inherent or latent in them (Campbell the non-variegated cultivars (green leafed et al., 2008). When some mutants are cut species) were probably the more primitive off from the parent plant, propagated and relative to the variegated cultivars cultivated, they may die or survive and (Fapohunda et al., 2005). become an independent plant cultivar. The intent of this research therefore Similarly, the leaf mutation or mutants are was to determine the differences in the equally more prominent, are readily visible leaves of the mutant compared to the parent and do occur in any part of any organism. plant in terms of morphology, Reports exist for leaf mutants on rice phytochemical, mineral and proximate (Oryza sativa) Arabidopsis thaliana, composition and to explore the usefulness tomato Lycopersicum esculemtum, and of the mutant plant for human benefits. zombi weed leaves (Mwine and Damme, 2011; Xu et al., 2014). Methodology Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds which are very vital in the Sample collection knowledge of the therapeutic properties of Fresh samples of the cultivar of plants. Some of such bioactive compounds, Codiaeum variegatum leaves (with usually analyzed for, include alkaloids, identification number; BU SAT 1) were tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, collected from the Babcock University flavonoids, saponins, phenols and phenolic Germplasm Repository (BUGR). compounds, phlobatanninis, terpenes, and Identification was carried out from the essential oils (Campbell et al., 2008). compiled checklist maintained on the stocks Phytochemicals are the biologically active and verified by Systematists in the substances in plants that are responsible for Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, giving them color, flavor and natural Faulty of Science and Technology, disease resistance. They appear to be Babcock University, Nigeria. The leaves Braz. J. Biol. Sci., 2017, v. 4, No. 7, p. 25-34. Comparative study of leaf of Codiaeum variegatum 27 were washed and air- dried for 3 weeks in observed for brownish green or a blue black the laboratory and oven dried at 40-45 °C coloration which signifies the presence of for 48 h. The leaves were then pulverized tannins. with a mixer grinder (LEXUS MG-2053 OPTIMA) and subjected to phytochemical, Determination of terpenoids. proximate and mineral analysis. Every 5 mL of the sample extract was mixed with analysis was carried out in triplicates. 2 mL of CHCl3 in a test tube; 3 mL of concentrated H2SO4 was added to the Morphological characteristic mixture to form a layer. An interface with a procedures reddish brown coloration is formed if The following steps were carried terpenoids are present. out: Determination of phenolic • Ten samples of matured leaves compounds. 0.5 g of the extract was (having green, yellow and maroon dissolved in 5 mL of distilled water. Few (purple) coloration at the back/ drops of neutral 5% Ferric chloride solution adaxial) of each cultivar (mutant were added. A dark green color indicated and plant) were collected; the presence of phenolic compounds. • Photocopies of all samples collected were made to produce Determination of saponins. 10 mL leaf prints of each leaf and of the extract was mixed with 5 mL of measurement of the desired distilled water in a test tube and shaken characters were done accordingly; vigorously to obtain a stable persistent • Another leaf skeletonization, also froth. The frothing is then mixed with 3 known as leaf print or printing , drops of olive oil and for the formation of clearing or discolorization was emulsion which indicates the presence of done according to Adam et al. saponins. (1970); Klein and Klein (1970) so as to display the difference between Mineral analysis the two venation pattern. Mineral content of the leaf samples was determined according to AOAC (1990) Phytochemical screening method. 1 g of pulverized sample was placed in a crucible and ignited in a muffle 30 g of each leaf sample was o extracted by maceration in 400 mL 80% of furnace at 550 C for 6 h. The resulting ash methanol, shaken and left for 48 h. The was dissolved in 20 mL of HNO3 (10%), mixture was filtered and the residue was re- heated slowly for about 20 min and macerated for 24 h (two more times)