TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENT PAGE

Title ............................................................................................................................................ .

Declaration .................................................................................................................................. i

Dedication .................................................................................................................................. .ii

Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... .iii

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... .iv

Table of contents ......................................................................................................................... v

List ofTables .................................................................. , ........................................................... vi

List of graphs ............................................................................................................................. vii

CHAPTER ONE ..................................... : ................................................................................. 1

1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1

Background .......................................................................................................................... 2

Problem statement. ............................................................................................................... 3

General objective ........................................................................... '. ..................................... 4

Specific objective ................................................................................................................. 4

Justification .......................................................................................................................... 4

Acronyrris and Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Literature review ................................................................................................................. 5

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 12

3.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 12

Plant collection, identification, preparation .......................................................................... 12

V

Methods and procedures ........................................................................................................ 12

Determination of cold extractive value ............................................... -.. : .................................. 12

Determination of ash value .................................................................. : ................................. 13

Moisture content. ................................................................................. , ................................ 13

Data analysis .......................................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER FOUR .......................... , ..... : .............................................................................. 14

4.0 Results ............................................................................................................................. 14

Cold extractive value ............................................................................................................ 14

Bar graph 1 ........................................................................................................................... 14

Water insoluble and soluble ash values ................................................................................ 15

Bar graph 2 .......................................................................................................................... 15

Moisture content. ............................................................................................................... 16

Bar graph 3 ......................................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................. 17

5. 0 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 17

Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 18

Recommendation ............................................................................................................... 18

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 19

Appendices ....................................................................................................................... 20

Photograph ....................................................................................................................... 20

Table l .............................................................................................................................. 21

Table 2 .............................................................................................................................. 21

ABSTRACT Amaranthus dubius is a plant that grows in most tropical parts of the world and usually found in most sub-humid parts of Uganda. Extractive values, ash values and moisture content are methods employed to authenticate herbal preparations which cannot be assayed by any other means. The values obtained can help one know whether the preparation was adulterated or not. The study involved determining the extractive, ash values and moisture content of Amaranthus dubius leaves. The Proximate analysis showed the percentage yield of extractive value, total ash, water-soluble and water insoluble as 5%, 27.5%, 17.5% and 10% respectively. Percentage moisture content was highest being 15.8% and lowest 10%. Temperature of the room should be considered and be maintained to the required temperature. Results indicated that A. dubius leaves were contaminated with foreign matter which could be soil, excreta or sand. Plants that are grown on mud soil are likely to be contaminated with soil than those grown on loamy soil. There is need to determine level of adulteration if any. Plant materials should be entirely free from visible signs of contamination by moulds or insects, and other animal contamination, including animal excreta. Results indicated that A. dubius contain moisture which could lead to deterioration, proliferation of organisms thereby rendering the plant unfit for human consumption.