Phytochemical and Proximate Analyses of Methanol Leaf Extract of Neem Azadirachta indica

Aims: To determine the phytochemical content, proximate and mineral analysis of neem leaves. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Bosso Campus, Niger State. from March 2013 to July, 2013.

Methodology: Reflux extraction was carried out using 70% methanol as extraction solvent standard analytical methods were used to determined the phytochemical content and AOAC official method was used to determined the proximate and mineral contents.

Results: The result of the phytochemical screening of methanol leaf extract indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, flavonoid, alkaloids, tannin, phenol, terpene, and reducing sugar while athraquinone and carbohydrate were absent.

The proximate analysis of Neem leaves showed the following result; moisture% 9.50±0.24, ash content 2.81±0.21, protein% 1.58±0.34, fat% 2.07±0.35, fibre% 5.92±0.47, carbohydrate% 78.12±0.35, Vitamin A (mg/100 g) 180±0.10 and Vitamin C (mg/100 g) 287±6.22.

The result of mineral analysis shows that neem leaves contains potassium 235.65±5.05, calcium 170.05±10.12, sodium 180.65±8.83 and phosphorus 39.34±3.25.

Conclusion: It can be deduced from these results of this study that neem leaves contained appreciable amount of phytochemicals, nutrients and minerals that aid it medicinal properties.