Abstract

This study evaluated the phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Mucuna pruriens seeds. Extractions were carried out with ethanol, methanol, and petroleum ether, water Acetone. The preliminary phytochemical study of the extracts of seed of Mucuna pruriens revealed the presence of alkaloids, Hydrogen cyanide, saponin, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins. The highest level of phytochemical screening was observed in the hydrogen cyanide which was signified with +++ (highly present) while the antioxidant screening revealed the high presence of nitric oxide radical scavenging and protein signified with +++ (Highly present). The extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli using agar well diffusion method. The petroleum ether, methanol, ethanol, water and acetone extracts of Mucuna pruriens seed possess various degrees of significant inhibitory effect against the tested organism. The highest antibacterial effect was observed in the ethanol extract against Staphylococcus aureus, (13mm inhibition zone) while the lowest inhibition zone of antibacterial effect was observed in the water extract against Staphylococcus aureus (7mm inhibition zone). Also the highest antifungal effect was observed in methanol extract against Aspergillus niger (13mm inhibition zone), Ethanol against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Mucor (12mm inhibition zone) while the lowest antifungal effect was observed in the water extract against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus (1mm inhibition zone). Broth dilution method was used to estimate Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against the selected pathogens. The results shows that the methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens seed has antifungal effect while the ethanol extract has antibacterial effect and may be used in treatment of some diseases. The results of the study suggest that adequate fermentation process should be carried out in the preparation of Mucuna pruriens seeds because of the high level of hydrogen cyanide. 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title                                                                                         Pages  

Title page i

Dedication ii

Certification iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of contents v

List of table’s vii

List of Figures viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0         Introduction 1

1.1 Aim and Objective of the Study 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.1      Literature Review 5

2.2 Origins and Early Uses 6

2.3 Taxonomy and Characteristics of Mucuna pruriens 13

2.3.1 Classification 13

2.3.2 Species Description 15

2.4 Current Uses of Mucuna pruriens 16

2.4.1 Antimicrobial Activity 16

2.4.2 Nutraceutical Versatility 16 

2.4.3 Antioxidant property 18

2.4.4 Antivenin property 18

2.4.5   Fertility-enhancing property 19

2.4.6 Growth-promoting property 20

2.3.7 Hypoglycemic property 20

2.4.8 Anthelmintic property 20

2.4.9 Mucuna pruriens as a Food and Feed Source 21

2.5 Nutritional Value 23

2.5.1 Protein Concentration 23

2.5.2 Other Nutrients 25

2.8 Comparison to Other Legumes  25

2.9 Antinutritional and Toxic Properties 27

2.9.1 Tannins  28

2.9.2 Proanthocyanidins 29

2.9.3 Hydrolyzable tannins 30

2.9.4                L-Dopa                                                                                                31

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods                                                                       33

3.1 Materials 33

3.1.2    Sample collection                                                                               33

3.2                   Methods                                                                                              33

3.2.1                Sample Preparation 33

3.2.2 Solvent extraction of the sample 33

3.3 Phytochemical Analysis of Mucuna Pruriens Powder 34

3.3.1 Determination of Hydrogen cyanide 34

3.3.2 Determination of Phenol 34

3.3.3 Determination of Tannin 34

3.3.4 Determination of Alkaloid 35

3.3.5 Determination of Saponin 36

3.3.6 Determination of Flavonoid 37

3.4 Detertmination of Antioxidant Properties of Mucuna pruriens 37

3.4.1 Protein Determination 37

3.4.2 Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity 38

3.4.3 Iron chelating activity 39

3.5 Antimicrobial Determination of Mucuna pruriens 39

3.5.1                Antibacterial activity of Mucuna pruriens                                         39

3.5.2 Antifungal activity of Mucuna pruriens 40

3.5.3 Minimum inhibitory concentration 40

3.6                   Statistical analysis                                                                               40                          

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results 41 

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion 48

5.2 Conclusion 50

5.3 Recommendation 50

5.4 Suggestion for future study. 51

References  

Appendix