Evaluation of Phytochemicals, Mineral Compositions and Nutritional Value Present in Phyllanthus amarus Leaves (Schum. and Thonn)

Phyllanthus amarus, a widely recognized medicinal plant, is known for its diverse therapeutic properties attributed to its nutritional composition and rich phytochemical profile. Hence, the objective of this paper is to determine the phytochemical, proximate, mineral and bioactive components present in the Phyllanthus amarus Leaves (Schum. and Thonn). The purpose of this study is to determine the proximate composition, mineral contents and bioactive compounds present in the Phyllanthus amarus. Methanol, ethanol, hot and cold extracts were used to evaluate the phytochemical composition. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponin, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids were present in all in plant extracts, while phlobatannin and Anthraquinone were absent in all the extracts. Carbohydrates had the highest concentration value of (54.43 ± 0.07), followed by crude fibre (16.8 ± 0.04), moisture (11.16 ±0.06), Protein (9.61± 0.51), ash (5.71±0.23) and fat (2.21 ± 0.13) with the lowest concentration value respectively. Mineral analysis confirmed the presence of essential elements such as calcium (1771.0 mg/kg), potassium (266.55mg/kg), iron (3.54mg/kg), sodium (20.45 mg/kg), copper (0.40 mg/kg), magnesium (832.00mg/kg) while lead and cadmium were absent. The antioxidant capacities of the different extracts such as cold, hot, ethanol and methanol of Phyllanthus amarus were assessed using DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl) radical, Total Phenol and ABTS scavenging ability. The results from this study provide valuable insights into the nutritional and medicinal value of Phyllanthus amarus and can guide further research on its potential applications in promoting human health.