Phytochemical and Proximate Composition of Aqueous leaf extract Leptadenia hastata (Decne)

Abstract Leptadenia hastata (Decne) is a climbing shrub which produces many flexible latexes that become woody at the bottom. The plant is used as nutritional as well as for medicinal purpose because of its health promoting properties. This study focused on the determination of phytochemical and proximate composition of aqueous leaf extract of Leptadenia hastata (Dene). Phytochemical and proximate composition were determined according to the methods of AOAC, 1990 and AOAC, 2010 respectively. phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, Saponins, Tannins, and Flavonoids. The result of the proximate composition indicated that crude fibre content was the highest (27.00 ± 0.03g%), followed by the ash content (23.00 ± 0.006), Carbohydrate (21.84 ± 0.68g%), Crude Protein (13.92 ± 0.32), Crude lipid (7.53 ± 0.91), and a low moisture content (4.48 ± 0.60). From the Results obtained L. hestata leaves possesses a rich phytochemical and nutritional. Profile which can be utilised as pharmacological agents in the treatment of some diseases as well as meet the nutritional requirement of the body. Keywords: Leaf extract, Leptadenia hastata, Phytochemical, Proximate composition