Phytochemical Analysis, Proximate, Amino Acid Profile, and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Pseudo Stem and Exudate from Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) Cultivated in Nigeria

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is an important tropical crop used for food and traditional medicine. In addition to the fruit, the pseudo-stem and exudate (sap) have medicinal benefits such as anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the composition of the pseudo-stem fibre and exudate to determine their nutritional and pharmacological value. Laboratory analyses included proximate composition, mineral content, phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, and amino acid profiling using standard scientific methods. Results revealed that plantain exudate (PEX) had very high moisture content (88.46%), low fibre (4.14%), carbohydrate (2.59%), fat and oil (1.50%), and ash (0.93%), whereas the plantain pseudo-stem (PPS) contained high carbohydrate (62.59%), moderate moisture (21.06%), high fibre (10.68%), ash (2.43%), and very low fat and oil (0.79%). PEX contained several bioactive compounds, with the most abundant being resveratrol (51.46 nmol/l), gallocatechin (37.40 nmol/l), and tangeretin (45.09 nmol/l), while PPS exhibited higher concentrations of similar compounds, especially kaempferol (91.34 nmol/l), vanillic acid (117.06 nmol/l), daidzein (24.27 nmol/l), and butein (21.42 nmol/l). Mineral analysis showed that PPS contained higher levels of iron (1.4439 ppm), sodium (5.2567 ppm), manganese (0.673 ppm), potassium (12.2893 ppm), calcium (11.894 ppm), and magnesium (7.229 ppm), while PEX had higher zinc (1.6161 ppm), copper (0.1057 ppm), and phosphorus (12.278 ppm). Sulphur content was also higher in PPS (2.861%) than PEX (1.892%). Amino acid composition revealed serine as the most abundant in both PEX (52.53 mg/100 g; 499.82 μmol/l) and PPS (59.75 mg/100 g; 568.55 μmol/l), with PPS generally showing higher amino acid concentrations, including elevated tyrosine (45.49 μmol/l) and tryptophan (7.41 μmol/l). Overall, PPS demonstrated higher nutrient density, mineral richness, and bioactive potency, whereas PEX contained moderate levels of amino acids and distinct phytochemicals with therapeutic potential. These findings indicate that the pseudo-stem and exudate of Musa paradisiaca exhibit significant nutritional richness, beneficial phytochemicals, and potent antioxidant properties.