Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The African pear (Dacryodes edulis) is a tropical fruit tree that is widely distributed in West Africa and is known for its nutritional and medicinal properties. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical constituents and proximate composition of African pear extract. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides in the extract. These compounds are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, which suggest that African pear extract may have potential health benefits. Furthermore, the proximate analysis showed that the extract had high moisture content, moderate ash content, low protein content, low fat content, and high carbohydrate content. The high moisture content indicates that the extract may contain a significant amount of water-soluble compounds, while the low fat content suggests that it may be a suitable choice for individuals looking to reduce their fat intake. The carbohydrate content indicates that the extract may be a good source of energy. Overall, the results of this study suggest that African pear extract is a rich source of phytochemicals with potential health benefits. Further studies are needed to explore the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these properties and to evaluate the extract's potential as a functional food or natural remedy for various health conditions.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION1.1 Background of the StudyPlants are important in our everyday existence. They provide our foods, produce the oxygen we breathe, and serve as raw materials for many industrial products such as clothes, foot wears and so many others. Plants also provide raw materials for our buildings and in the manufacture of biofuels, dyes, perfumes, pesticides, adsorbents and drugs. The plant kingdom has proven to be the most useful in the treatment of diseases and they provide an important source of all the world’s pharmaceuticals. The most important of these bioactive constituents of plants are steroids, terpenoids, carotenoids, flavanoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Plants in all facet of life have served a valuable starting material for drug development (Ajibesin, 2011). Antibiotics or antimicrobial substances like saponins, glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids etc are found to be distributed in plants, yet these compounds were not well established due to the lack of knowledge and techniques. The phytoconstituents which are phenols, anthraquinones, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and saponins are antibiotic principles of plants. Plants are now occupying important position in allopathic medicine, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and aromatherapy. Medicinal plants are the sources of many important drugs of the modern world. Many of these indigenous medicinal plants are used as spices and food plants; they are also sometimes added to foods meant for pregnant mothers for medicinal purposes ( Akinpela and Onakoya, 2006). Many plants are cheaper and more accessible to most people especially in the developing countries than orthodox medicine, and there is lower incidence of adverse effects after use. These reasons might account fortheir worldwide attention and use. The medicinal properties of some plants have been documented by some researchers ( Akinpelu and Onukoya, 2006). Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and communities. It was the advent of antibiotics in the 1950s that led to the decline of the use of plant derivatives as antimicrobials (Marjorie, 1999). Medicinal plants contain physiologically active components which over the years have been exploited in the traditional medical practices for the treatment of various ailments (Ajibesin, 2011). A relatively small percentage of less than 10% of all the plants on earth is believed to serve as sources of medicine (Marjorie, 1999).In an effort to find alternative sources of feedstuffs to replace some or all of the maize in the diet of pigs and other non-ruminant farm animals, several studies have been conducted to determine the suitability of some agro-industrial wastes as feed ingredients. These include cocoa pod husks, brewers spent grains, rice bran, maize bran, groundnut skins, and wheat bran. However, one by-product that requires consideration is cashew nut testa, a by-product obtained from the processing of cashew nuts. Its utilization as animal feed even at relatively low dosage formulations will minimize its disposal problem as well as reduce the cost of animal feeding.1.2 Statement of the ProblemIt is now known that agricultural materials are used as animal feeds and that they contain phytochemicals. These phytochemicals serve as antibiotic principles of plants.The need for a cheap, renewable, easily available and nutritive source of material as feed supplements has therefore attracted me to investigate African pear leaf, (APL) as an alternative.1.3 Objectives of the StudyBroadly stated, the purpose of this work is to investigate/assess the nutritive and medicinal values of African pear leaf as an effective replacement in animal diets. Specifically, this work investigated:(i) the proximate constituents of African pear leaf; and(ii) the qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals of African pear leaf.