EVALUATION OF PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LEAVES ANNONA SENEGALENSIS PERS.

Phytochemistry and nutritional composition of Annona senegalensis pers leaves was investigated. The proximate analysis (carbohydrates, fats, crude protein, moisture, dry matter, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract and ash) of the leaves were determined using standard methods. The proximate analysis results reveals the presence the percentage of dry matter is 92.3%, moisture content is 7.79%, crude fibre is 33.0%, crude protein 2.7%, ash content is 2.0%, ether content is 2.0% and carbohydrate is 55.0% in the leaf of annona senegalensis. The air-dried plant material was extracted using 85% ethanol. The percentage yield of the extract was estimated to be 8.3%w/w The phytochemical screening reveals the presence saponin, terpenoid, cardiac glycoside, tannins, flavonoid, carbohydrate while anthraquinone and alkaloids were not found in the ethanolic extract of annona senegalensis. The presence of these important nutrients could be used as a nutritionally valuable and healthy ingredient to improve poultry health and growth performance. The phytochemicals found in the ethanolic extract have been implicated in having many medicinal and toxicological importance.