Investigation of the Phytochemical and Nutritional Potentials of Locally Prepared Aqueous Extract of Sorghum Vulgare’s Stalk

Abstract

Sorghum vulgare is a beneficial plant whose stalks are still under-explored. The need to examine its nutritional and medicinal values becomes critical as its stalk decoctions are becoming widespread local drink preparations. Samples of sorghum (guinea corn) were obtained from six selected farmlands in Minna, the North central zone of Nigeria. They were dried, finely ground and kept as both whole and extract samples. Extraction by the decoction method was used. Proximate composition and elemental determinations were carried out on both sample types. Phytochemical screening was also carried out on only aqueous extract, which is the only form in which the local drinks are prepared and consumed. The proximate shows prominent contents of ash, crude fibre, crude fat and carbohydrate values of whole and extract samples value which are (3.00%, 15%), (36.47%, Nil), (16.00%, 11.50%), (32.41%, 73.05%) respectively. Similarly,, the mean load of major essential elements (Ca, Na, K and Mg) in mg/100g of the two forms showed (24.50, 40.30), (23.30, 15.70), (212.20, 142.90) and (14.00, 13.30). The mean load of trace essential elements: Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu gives (52.00, 25.00), (5.10, 5.60), (2.80, 2.70), and (0.70, 0.30), respectively. The aqueous extract showed a prominent presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycoside, tannins and saponins,, while flavonoids were moderately present. The overall studies show that sorghum stalk possibly is not only capable of supplying nutrients but also could be a potential part of medicinal therapeutic formations.