Abstract

NUTRIENT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) AND SOURSOP (ANNONA MURICATA) LEAVES FOR USE AS HYPOGLYCEMIC AGENTS

Ijioma Okorie*, Ngozi M. Nnam, Elizabeth N. Chukwuemeka, Chiemela Goodluck Ndubuisi and Adaeze C. Okorie

.

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent diseases globally. The current mode of treatment of DM, which is based on synthetic drugs is expensive and causes genetic and metabolic alterations. However, safe mode of treatment involving use of materials and/or extracts of plant origin is needed to mitigate the disease development and progression, which will also constitute a costeffective strategy in DM treatment and management. Thus, the study was aimed to determine nutrient and phytochemical profiles in aqueous extracts of A. sativum and A. muricata leaves use in DM management. Materials and methods: Experimental study design was adopted for the study. Fresh leaves of A. sativum and A. muricata were harvested, sorted, washed and dried at room temperature. The leaves were processed into aqueous gummy extracts using standard method. About 100mg/mL each of the extracts was used to profile nutrients and phytochemicals using standard methods. One-way analysis of variant was used to analyze data. Results: A. muricata and A. sativum leaves had 3.42% and 2.02% of protein, 0.35% and 0.03% of fibre, 2.17% and 0.97% of ash, respectively. Iron and calcium contents were 4.12% and 14.82% in A. muricata; and 0.87% and 4.63% in A. sativum, respectively. Vitamin B1 and C contents were 0.23% and 2.08% in A. muricata; and 0.33% and 52.40% in A. sativum, respectively. The aqueous extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids. Conclusion: The study showed that the aqueous gummy extracts of the leaves were rich in vital nutrients and bioactive compounds that could exhibit anti-hyperglycaemic effects in DM.

Keywords: Aqueous extract, A. sativum, A. muricata, Nutrients, Phytochemicals, Diabetes mellitus.