Phytochemical Screening, Proximate Composition and Mineral Element Analysis of Neocarya macrophylla (Gingerbread) Plum and its Effects on Microorganisms

Abstract

The need to increase the production and utilization of locally available food and antimicrobial resources has been discussed at different national and international forum. Fresh Neocarya macrophylla fruits were obtained from Birnin Kebbi central market in Kebbi state and it was transported to Biochemistry Department at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Where the fruit of N. macrophylla was transformed or crushed through stigmasterol extraction with 70% of methanol. The compound, stigmasterol, indicated varying actions of antimicrobial activity against the microbes tested. Susceptibility test result showed inhibition ranging from 23 mm to 30 mm against all the organisms, which are S. aureus (24 mm), Salmonella Typhimurium (23 mm), P. aeruginosa (26 mm), E. coli (28 mm), Streptococcus pyogenes (25 mm), B. subitilis (23 mm), A. niger (29 mm), C. albicans (24 mm), and C. kruseii (23 mm). Creating zone of inhibition. The ash content was 6.70±0.05., moisture 14.23%±0.10., lipids 6.70% ±0.05., fibre 10.15%± 0.57., crude protein 1.015%±0.127., carbohydrate 51.33%±1.025. The pulp also contains low concentrations of magnesium (2.843±0.025) and very low concentrations of iron (0.0856±0.002), manganese (0.0122±0.048), copper (0.0087±0.002), and zinc (0.0024±0.001), which are important micro elements required by body for proper functioning. The result obtained indicate that Neocarya macrophylla fruit pulp of pharmaceutical and medical significances that are useful in Combating antibiotics resistance infections, nutritional rich in terms of minerals and carbohydrate composition.

Levels of Proximate Compositions and Minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn) Present in Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and Gingerbread Plum (Noecarya macrophylla) Leaves Collected from Sokoto Town

“…while sodium and potassium are comparatively lower. However, in earlier work reported by Garba et al, (2022) from Sokoto, lower levels (compared to those of gingerbread plum in Table 2) were reported.…”

“…Proteins are used to make new tissues, make enzymes, hormones, and antibodies required for homeostasis. Likewise, the lipid macromolecules provide energy and many other useful compounds such as vitamins, cholesterol, and hormones (Garba et al, 2022;Umar et al, 2023).…”

“…After the digestion has been completed, the AAS machine was used to determine the concentrations of Mg, Cu, Zn, Na, K and Ca in the gingerbread plum and eucalyptus samples (Garba et al, 2022).…”

“…Parable,Garba etal., (2022) reported antimicrobial capacity of gingerbread on S. aureus, S. faecalis,P. arruginosa, C. albicans, S. typhimurium, and C. kriusei; this is an indication of the presence of useful phytochemicals that act against the examined microbes(Ayoade et al, 2022;Garba et al, 2022). Likewise, Bala etal., (2022) in their works reiterated the presence of phytochemicals (such as tannin, phytate, and relations) in components of gingerbread plum obtained from Niger and Guinea Republics; and a corroborated finding that revealed tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids in seeds of gingerbread plum collected from Sokoto, Nigeria had already been published by Warra et…”

“…There is using prevalence of antibiotic resistance, especially in developing countries where selfmedication is rampant, indicating the need for more exploration of medicinal plants. The state is faced with challenging issue of infections and non-infectious diseases; the two which require the use of therapeutics that are accessible, affordable, effective, and cheap plants sources (like plum and eucalyptus) for redress in the state (Farid & Neda, 2014;Gada & Ismaila, 2021;Garba et al, 2022). The aggravating factor of challenges in the state could be poverty, that in turn compelled people to seek for alternative or traditional medicine therapies for their healthcare needs.…”