Preliminary phytochemical screening, proximate and elemental composition of Moringa Oleifera lam seed powder

The seed powder of Moringa oleifera was analysed for its phytochemical, proximate and elemental composition using Folin-Denis spectrophotometric method, gravimetric method and energy dispersing X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) transmission emission technique respectively. The seed powder had the following proximate composition: nitrogen (2.98%), crude protein (18.63%), tannins (322.9 mg/100g), alkaloids (8.24 mg/100g) and saponins (9.13%). The predominant mineral elements in the seed powder were: Al (144 ± 4 ppm), Ca (602 ± 122 ppm), K (732 ± 164 ppm), P (0.619 mg/kg), Na (86.2 ± 4.9 ppm), Mn (17.5 ± 0.4 ppm), Br (0.62 ± 0.09 ppm), La (0.73 ± 0.13 ppm), Sm (0.14 ± 0.01 ppm), Rb (37.5 ± 6.7 ppm) and Sc (0.17 ± 0.03 ppm) while Mg, Fe, Cr, As, Th and Zn were all beyond detection limits. The results of the study suggest the pharmacological and nutritional potentials of M. oleifera seeds for human and other animal uses. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, seed powder, phytochemical, nutritional composition.