Proximate and Phytochemical Compositions of Ricinus communis in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria

The analyses of seeds of Ricinus communis collected from Ibadan, South Western Nigeria were carried out to determine its proximate and phytochemical compositions. The proximate analysis showed that the percentage of crude fat was greater than that of crude protein followed by the percentage of crude fibre, moisture and ash respectively. The contents of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash and total carbohydrate were 6.397, 26.64, 59.43, 12.72, 3.177 and 4.360% respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed presence of Alkaloids (+++), Cardiac Glycosides (++), Saponins (+++), Tannins (+), Flavonoids (+), Phenol (++), Phobatannin (+) and Anthraquinone (+). The quantitative analysis showed varying concentrations of alkaloids (0.8815 cmol/kg), cardiac glycosides (0.0745 cmol/kg), saponins (1.2315 cmol/kg), flavonoids (0.0022 cmol/kg) and phenol (0.0905 cmol/kg). Other constituents investigated in castor bean seeds such as steroids, terpene, cardenolides and chalcones were completely absent. The percentages of crude protein and fat obtained as well as phytochemical constituents present suggest that Ricinus communis seeds could be a good source of protein for humans consumption and livestock feeding, oil for industrial uses and medicine for treating various ailments.