Comparative Evaluation of Some Nutrient Contents and Antifungal Properties of Ground Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) Peels and Leaves | Chapter 06 | Advances in Applied Science and Technology Vol. 7
Musa paradisiaca (plantain) fruit peels
and the plant leaves may have some nutrients and antifungal properties. Thus,
the study determined and compared some nutrients (minerals and vitamins) in the
ground plantain peels and leaves and the antifungal property of the aqueous and
ethanol extracts (at concentration of 100 mg/ml) of the ground plantain peels
and leaves, using standard methods. In either sample, vitamin A was not
detected. The difference (±5.28 mg/100 g) in the highest of the detected
vitamins, vitamin C in the samples, was statistically significant (p<0.05)
whereas the difference (±0.01 mg/100 g) in the least detected vitamins, vitamin
B2, was not significant (p>0.05). Out of the determined minerals
(mg/100 g), the highest concentration was potassium (40.00 ± 0.08) in the
plantain leaves followed by phosphorous (36.00 ± 1.65) in the plantain peels
while the least was magnesium (1.80 ± 0.05) in the leaves followed by iron
(5.60 ± 0.06) in the peels. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of the peels and
leaves showed activity (inhibition zone diameter measured in millimeter, mm)
against Candida albicans, however, the activity of the ethanol extract of the
leaves (15.67±0.58) was higher (p<0.05) than that of the ethanol extract of
the peels and the aqueous extract of the peels and leaves. The difference in
activity against C. albicans between the samples extracts in terms of either
the same or the different extracting solvent was significant (p<0.05) but
the overall difference between the samples compared to the extracting solvents
(±0.67) was the same hence non-significant (p>0.05). A similar trend was
recorded for the activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the peels and
leaves against P. notatum. Thus, the plantain peels and leaves could be
alternative source for vitamin C. The extracts (aqueous and ethanol) had
activity against C. albicans and P. notatum hence may be useful in managing
such pathogen-induced ailments. Overall negligible difference in activity
against either C. albicans or P. notatum in terms of samples and the extracting
solvents was suggested and this may be an underlying useful trend for comparing
the overall antimicrobial activity of different samples and solvents, hence
warrants a follow up.
Author(s) Details
Anthony Cemaluk C. Egbuonu
Department of Biochemistry,
College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,
Nigeria.
Wisdom O. Nneji
Department of Biochemistry,
College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,
Nigeria.
Chimnonye A. Ukasoanya
Department of Biochemistry,
College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,
Nigeria.
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