Studies on the Phytochemical and Proximate Properties of the Extract of Unripe Annona muricata (Linn.) Fruit

Aims: Study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical and proximate properties of unripe A. muricata fruit extract.

Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out at the Federal University of Technology, Akure Central Laboratory between June 2014 - August 2014.

Methodology: Matured unripe fruits of A. muricata were collected, washed, dried, powdered and extracted using 70% ethanol. After which the proximate and phytochemical properties were determined using standard methods.

Results: The result of the qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponin, tannin, terpernoid, flavonoid, anthraquinone and cardiac glycoside but alkaloid and phlobatanin were absent while the quantitative screening showed that cardiac glycoside (27.19 mg/g) was the highest occurring phytochemical in the extract followed by terpenoid (19.31mg/g), tannin (13.12 mg/g), flavonoids (9.09mg/g), saponin (4.63 mg/g), and anthraquinone (1.12 mg/g). Meanwhile, the results of the proximate composition (%) of unripe A. muricata fruit extract showed that carbohydrate was the highest occurring nutrient with 48.7, followed by moisture content (24.51), fat (17.13), crude protein (9.09) and ash (0.58). However, crude fibre was not detected.

Conclusion: The results of this present study indicate that Annona muricata fruit extract is potentially useful in phytomedicine and also provide information on the nutritive importance to body health.