BIOACTIVE AND NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF GNIDOSCOLUS CARUMBIUM AND SPIGELIA MARILANDICA

Several plants are recognized and used by the local populations of Nigeria and other developing countries for medicinal and nutritional purposes, without a concise knowledge of the bioactive and nutritional contents. This study aimed at examining the bioactive and nutritional significance of Cnidoscolus carumbium (“hospital no far”, in pidgin English) and Spigelia marilandica (“worn grass”). The phytochemical properties, proximate values and the mineral elements of the plant were obtained by analysis of the plant extracts using established procedures. Results revealed moderate contents of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and steroids in C. carumbium, and high levels of tannins, flavonoids, and terphenes in S. marilandica, indicating high medicinal potency of the plants. There was evidence of nutritional significance from the high levels of carbohydrate (18.40±0.10%), fiber (34.35±0.02%), crude fat (14.22±0.01%) and moisture (22.33±0.13%) in C. carumbium. S. mariladdica was also observed to have relatively high levels of carbohydrate (17.20±0.25%), moisture (37.36±0.26%), fiber (6.50±0.16%), crude fat (5.20±0.05%) and protein (1.28±0.10%), indicating high nutritional value. Besides, the levels of the mineral elements, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were all within the recommended permissible limits, except Pb (1.573±0.0.02mg/c) in