QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF THE AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA

Abstract

Phoenix dactylifera (P. dactylifera) is common for its nutritional and medicinal
benefits in the northern part of Nigeria. This study was carried out to qualitatively and
quantitatively estimate the phytochemicals present in aqueous and ethanol extracts
of P. dactylifera. Proximate composition was also determined. The result showed
that the ethanol and aqueous extracts contained high amount of total phenol (72.00
± 0.50 and 60.70 ± 0.80 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract respectively) and
proanthocyandins (37.50 ±0.50 and 21.67 ± 0.84 mg catechin equivalent /g extract
respectively), but moderate amount of total flavonoids content (8.56 ± 1.36 and 5.35
± 0.50 mg quercetin equivalent /g extract respectively). Phytochemical screening
revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroid and
carbohydrate in both extract. In the proximate analysis, carbohydrate was the
predominant component with values of 52.0 % followed by moisture 15.0 %, crude
protein 14.43 %, lipid 10.0 %, ash 5.5 % and crude fibre 3.0 %. Both extracts of P.
dactyliferia screened for phytochemical constituents seemed to have the potential to
act as a source of useful drugs and also to improve the health status of the
consumers as a result of the presence of various secondary metabolites that are vital
for good health.