Mineral, Phytochemical, and Toxicological Analyses of Root Extracts of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook f.)

Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is a widely consumed vegetable in Nigeria due to its nutritional and medicinal benefits. While its leaves, stems, and seeds have been extensively studied, the root is often discarded as waste. This research investigates the phytochemical composition, bioactive compounds, mineral analysis and toxicological properties of the ethanolic root extract of T. occidentalis. The study employed phytochemical screening and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic techniques (XRF) to characterize the bioactive compounds and mineral components in T. occidentalis. The leaves, stem and root were analyzed for Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn). Acute toxicity were conducted on mice, to assess the biological effect of the root extract, administered at different concentrations (1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, and 3 mg/kg) for 14 days while, Wistar rats were used for the sub-acute test at different concentrations of (1000 mg/kg, 1600 mg/kg, 2900 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg). The percentage yield of the ethanolic root extract of T. occidentalis was 7.69%. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolics, and glycosides was confirmed, while tannins, steroids, and reducing sugars were absent. Mineral analysis showed substantial concentrations of K (20.17%), Ca (12.94%) and Mg (8.41%) in the root. The root also exhibit the highest Mg (8.41%), Fe (3.939 %) and Mn (0.461 %) content than the leaves and stem. The sub-acute test showed variations in body weight of Wistar rats, and acute toxicity tests determined an LD₅₀ value of approximately 3200 mg/kg, suggesting moderate toxicity at high doses. The findings highlight the nutritional potential of T. occidentalis root as a source of essential minerals and bioactive compounds, while also emphasizing the need for cautious dosage due to possible toxicity at elevated concentrations. This supports the plant’s prospective applications in nutrition and phytomedicine, provided safe consumption guidelines are established. Further research is recommended to explore its pharmacokinetics, optimize extraction methods, and determine safe therapeutic doses.