Chemicals and Nutritional Composition of Four Botanicals with Fungitoxic Properties

Evaluation of four botanicals Vernonia amygdalina L., Bryophyllum pinnatum L., Eucalyptus globules Labill and Ocimum gratissimum Kurz (Clocimum) for chemical and nutritional properties was conducted at Ago Iwoye in South-western Nigeria. The results from the investigation showed that V. amygdalina contained large quantity of Thiamine, Pyridoxine, Ascorbic acid, Glycine, Cysteine and Casein hydrolysate significantly more than other botanicals. Similarly, all the botanicals contained carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. However, the acid contents of B. pinnatum and E. globules were significantly higher than those of V. amygdalina and O. gratissimum. Similarly, the hydrocyanic acid and oxalic acid contents of B. pinnatum and E. globules were significantly (p = 0.05) higher than those of O. gratissimum. Moreover, the four botanicals contained mineral nutrients and sugars; hence, if the botanicals were used to treat cowpea plants, all these would be supplied to cowpea plants and so enhance their performances.