ABSTRACT

Amaranthus hybridus belongs to the family amaranthacae. It is also known as green, amaranth, pigweed, slim amaranth and green leaf. The phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of Amaranthus hybridus was investigated using standard analytical methods in order to assess the numerous potential of the plant leaves. The Proximate analysis showed the percentage moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrate of the leaves as 55.80±0.96, 18.86±0.87, 13.56±0.02, 11.88±0.28, 23.95±0.69, 31.74±1.76 respectively. The phytochemical screening was carried out using ethanol extract and aqueous extract. The ethanol extract showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids and phenolics. The aqueous extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides and eugenols. The results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of phytochemicals as well as high amounts of crude fibre, ash and carbohydrate. The presence of alkaloids in the Amaranthus hybridus leaf shows that the leaf can be used in the production of drugs for cancer prevention since alkaloids are known to have anti-cancer activity. The presence of saponins in the plant shows that it can be used as a natural antibiotic since saponins are known to have cytotoxic effect.