Proximate Composition, Antinutrient Content and Antimicrobial Properties of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Leaves

Fresh leaves of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were harvested from area gardens around Mayne Avenue in Calabar. Proximate composition, anti-nutrient content, vitamins content and antimicrobial activity of the extract were determined. The antimicrobial activity using the aqueous extract was also determined. The results of the proximate composition revealed the presence of moisture 86.40%, ash 6.50%, protein 4.38%, fat 1.20%, fibre 2.39% and carbohydrate 85.36%. The antinutrient components detected are within the acceptable limits with phytic acid 60.44mg/100g followed by total oxalate 40.30mg/g and therefore will not cause any adverse health problems. Toxic amino acid and chlorogenic acid were not detected in the plant extract. The vitamin contents range from 0.10mg/100g to 143.20mg/100g. The highest value was found in vitamin A and the least in niacin. The antimicrobial activities of the extract of this plant against the pathogenic test organisms showed zones of inhibition ranging from 20.5 mm for Salmonella typhi to 26 mm for Streptococcus pyogenes at 10 µg/ml. The highest zones of inhibition observed with the standard antibiotics were gentamycin 19mm at 10 µg/ml against E. coli, ofloxacin 21mm at 5 µg/ml against K. pneumoniae and methicillin 16mm at 10 µg/ml against S. pyogenes, K. pneumonia and E. coli.