ABSTRACT

Phytochemical and proximate analyses were carried out on leafy stem and flower head extract of Centaurea praecox grown in Sokoto, using standard methods. The result of phytochemical analysis shows that the flower head contain 1.67mg/100g Alkaloid, 2.50mg/100 saponins, 5.20mg/100g flavonoid, 4.07mg/100g Steroid. The proximate analyses revealed that the flower head contain 3% moisture, 11.5% Ash, 3% crude lipid, 3.5% crude protein, 25% crude fibre and 57% carbohydrate. The mineral analyses revealed that the flower head contain 3200mg/100g potassium, 120mg/100g sodium, 6.45mg/100g phosphorus, 1.95mg/100g magnesium, 1.35mg/100g calcium. The results of phytochemical analysis shows that the leafy stem contain 1.13mg/100g alkaloid, 6.13mg/100g saponins, 3.13mg/100g flavonoids, 1.90mg/100g Steroid. The proximate analyses revealed that the leafy stem contain 3%moisture, 23.5%Ash, 3%crude lipid, 7%crude protein, 17%crude fibre and 49.5%carbohydrate. The mineral analysis revealed that the leafy stem contain 1500mg/100g potassium, 60mg/100g sodium, 6.93mg/100g phosphorous, 3.85mg/100g magnesium, and 2.4mg/100g calcium. Therefore, C. praecox can be considered as animal food and medicinal plant.