Proximate, Phytochemical and Micronutrient Composition of Sida acuta

Abstract

Sida acuta, a shrub belonging to Malvacea family, is widely distributed in pan tropical areas and it has many folk medicine applications that varies from one region to another. The proximate, phytochemical and micronutrient (minerals and vitamins) composition of Sida acuta leaves were determined and quantified in this study using standard analytical methods. The result for proximate composition (%) was 9.03+0.06, 19.13+0.15 0.67+0.06, 6.33+0.06, 9.50+0.01 and 55.30+0.10 for moisture, protein, fat, ash, fibre and carbohydrate respectively and values obtained for the phytochemicals were 125.0+0.00mg/100g tannin, 406.67+2.89mg/100g saponin, 1751.67+2.89mg/100g alkaloid, 1255.0±0.0 mg/100g flavonoids, 85.0+0.0mg/100g terpenoids and 90.0+0.0mg/100g phenolics. The result of micronutrient analysis gave 22.43± 0.21 mg/100g, 0.33±0.06mg/100g, 0.10±0.0mg/100g, 0.02±mg/100g and 925±0.0mg/100g for ascorbic acid, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and β-carotene, respectively, and the values for calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and magnesium were 85.0+0.0mg/100g, 4.867+0.06mg/100g, 65.0+0.0mg/100g, 110+0.0mg/100g and 24.5±0.0mg/100g respectively. The phytochemical composition of Sida acuta are in significant quantities to confer diverse therapeutic effects while the values for proximate and micronutrient composition indicate that Sida acuta would provide beneficial nutrients.