ABSTRACT
Banana (Musa sapientum) are tropical fruit that are grown in Nigeria and other parts of the world, it is consumed mainly as fuits and desserts. Banana exudates are combinations of organic compounds that plants ooze out, usually in response to injury but occasionally not. The exudate is known to contain som bioactive substances known as phytochemical components like phenolics, terpenoids, tannins, phlobatannis and alkaloids. It has been reported that these bioactive substances have pharmacological effects, especially when used as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. This research is aimed at evaluating the Nutritional, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties as well as the micro and macro nutrient present in the plant exudate. The sample of banana exudate used was collected from a matured banana plant aspetically into a sterile bottle and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Phytochemical, nutitional properties were determined using a standard laboratory procedures. The phytochemical constituents present in the exudate analysed were, flavonoid, tannins, saponin, alkaloids and some phenolic compounds. The phytochemical constiuent present were qualified to be 5.25± 0.00g/kg for phenolics, 6.71±0.07g/kg for flavonoids, 2.74±0.02g/kg for tannins, 2.01±0.00g/kg for saponnins and 4.09±0.00% for alkaloids. The presence of vitamin C and A as well as phosphorus, potassium and carbohydrate were determined. Banana exudate was also seen to exert antimicrobial activities on the selected bacteria, inhibiting Streptococcus specie with a microbial count of 90 at 100% concentration and 130 at 50% concentration and having least effects on Samonella speciewith a microbial count of 250 at 100% concentration and too numerous to count at 50% concentration. However, there was no evidence of any activity against the selected fungus species. In conclusion, banana exudate possesses phytochemicals which exhibit antioxidants and bactericidal properties but has no fungicidal activity. However, more research is needed to know the its antibiotics mechanism.
