A Comparative Study of Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Phyllanthus amarus Leaf and Seed

Phyllanthus amarus is valued in many countries its broad spectrum of pharmacological activities for a variety of ailments. The study evaluated and compared the nutritional and phytochemical components of the dried leaf and seed of the plant. Proximate analysis revealed that both leaf and seed are rich in carbohydrate and energy, low in fat, ash, crude fibre, with moderate protein as well as adequate moisture content for preservation. The leaf has significantly higher protein and ash, but lower values of carbohydrate and energy than the seed, with no significant difference in their moisture and fat contents. For the minerals and vitamin contents, both seed and leaf are rich in Mg , Ca , K , PO and ascorbic acid, moderate level of Fe ; but low in Zn , thiamin, 2+ 2+ + 3- 2+ 2+ 4 niacin and riboflavin. The seed has significantly higher contents of Mg , Ca , K , PO Fe , thiamin, ascorbic 2+ 2+ + 3- 2+ 4 acid and riboflavin, but lower in Zn and thiamin than the leaf. Phytochemical evaluation revealed that both 2+ seed and leaf have high contents of alkaloids and saponin, moderate in tannins, with appreciable antioxidant level, but low in phytates, oxalate, protease inhibitor and total phenol. The seed, however, has significantly higher values of alkaloids, tannins, antioxidant, protease inhibitor and total phenol; but lower saponin content than the leaf. There was no significant difference obtained for the phytates and oxalate content of the leaf and seed. The present study demonstrated that P. amarus is a valuable plant for naturaceuticals and dietary supplement. The differential distributions of the chemical constituents in the leaf and seed, needs to be explored when targeting isolation of a specific chemical so as to reduce cost of research.