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4508097 
Journal Article 
Nutritive Value, Phytochemical and Antifungal Properties of Pergularia tomentosa L. (Asclepiadaceae) 
Hassan, SW; Umar, RA; Ladan, MJ; Nyemike, P; Wasagu, RSU; Lawal, M; Ebbo, AA 
2007 
Yes 
International Journal of Pharmacology
ISSN: 1811-7775 
Asian Network for Scientific Information 
3 
4 (Aug 2007) 
334-340 
English 
This study was aimed to assess the nutritive value, phytochemical constituents and antifungal activity of leaf, root and stem extracts of Pergularia tomentosa. Chemical composition of leaf, stem and root extracts of the plant were determined using standard methods. Aqueous and organic solvents extracts of the plant parts were screened for antifungal activity using agar dilution method. Phytochemicals detected in the leaf and stem extracts were alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and anthraquinones. The roots contain trace amounts of cyanogenic glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and anthraquinones. Mineral element composition of the plant showed higher amount of phosphorus and potassium in the root and stem and sodium, magnesium and calcium in the leaf extracts. All the plant parts used contain high percentages of carbohydrates and crude fibre ranging from 53.27 plus or minus 1.75 to 61.31 plus or minus 2.84% and 16.33 plus or minus 029 to 23.17 plus or minus 0.58%, respectively. Lipids (6.83 plus or minus 0.76%), ash (17.17 plus or minus 1.04%) and crude protein contents (6.39 plus or minus 0.17%) were higher in the leaf extracts while the stem was of higher moisture (10.67 plus or minus 0.76%) content Hexane (HX), Petroleum Ether (PE) and chloroform (CHL) leaf, stem and root extracts were active against all the isolates tested with percentage inhibitions ranging from 41.90 plus or minus 5.63 to 97.52 plus or minus 0.28%. The organic solvent extracts demonstrated near complete inhibitions of the fungal isolates at 8.00 mg mL super(-1)while the aqueous (AQ) extracts of the plant parts inhibited the growth of the isolates at 27.17 plus or minus 7.79 to 97.45 plus or minus 0.21% with near complete inhibition of the tested isolates also at 8.00 mg ml super(-1). The results showed that the leaf, root and stem extracts of Pergularia tomentosa have potential nutritional and antifungal uses. 
Agar; Calcium; Lipids; Phosphorus; Roots; petroleum ether; Chloroform; Alkaloids; Nutritive value; glycosides; Tannic acid; Carbohydrates; Cardiac glycosides; Flavonoids; anthraquinone; Solvents; Leaves; Potassium; Saponins; Sodium; Antifungal activity; Plant extracts; Magnesium; Minerals; n-Hexane; Asclepiadaceae