Assessment of the Phytochemical, Proximate, Vitamin and Mineral Composition of Solanum gilo L.

Assessment of the phytochemical, proximate, vitamins and mineral composition of S. gilo L was undertaken using standard methods. The phytochemical screening revealed that the plant contained tannins, saponins, phenols, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids, The results showed that S. gilo L had alkaloid content of 6±2.23%, flavonoid 19.5±0.02%, saponin 5±0.3%), tannin 1±0.24%, phenol 1.8±0.02%, and cyanogenic glycosides 4.7±0.21%. The proximate analysis showed a moisture content of (6±1.41%),ash (14.8±0.02%) crude fiber (29.33±0.02%), lipid (37.61±0.01%), protein (0.18±0.02%) and carbohydrate (13.03±0.01%). S. gilo L. also showed high level of vitamins incuding vitamin B1 (1.2±0.16µg), vitamin B2 (10.71±0.16 µg) vitamin C (264±2.15 mg/g), vitamin B3 (7.33±0.02 µg). It also showed trace amounts of vitamin E (0.52±0.02 µg), high mineral contents of potassium (4150±2.14mg/g) and sodium (270±1.41 mg/g), and trace amounts of other elements including lead (0.04±0.01 mg/g) and cadmium (0.025±0.002 mg/g). The result show that S. gilo L is endowed with appreciable amounts of bioactive substances and nutritive components which justifies its wide use in ethnomedicine and as stew condiment as well as being used food.