Abstract:
Morus alba has been identified as a multifunctional versatile plant with enormous economic, nutritional and health potentials. It has been reported to have neuroprotective, skin tonic, anti oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, antibacterial, Astringent, anti-helmintic, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, anti-diaphoretic, anti- purgative, anti-diarrhea, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor activity.(Nomura et al., 1980; Butt et al., 2008; Sun et al., 2011). This study evaluates the phytochemical constituents and assess the nutritional value, mineral composition and antibacterial potential of white mulberry(morus alba) leaves and root extracts. The leaf and root samples of the mulberry plant were collected from the farm of Ondo State sericulture plant, along Ondo road, Akure, Ondo state. The samples were air-dried, blended into dry powder, sieved and stored in air tight containers. 20 g of the powdered leaf and root was weighed and divided into two equal parts, one half was soaked in 100 mL distilled water for 3 days while the other half was extracted with analytical grade 95% ethanol in a soxhlet extractor at 78oC for 6 hrs. The nutritional and anti nutritional components present in the leaves and root were identified by phytochemical test using the methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The analysis of the two extracts confirmed the presence of active substances such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The concentration of the following mineral elements were also determined: sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus while the percentage composition of ash, moisture, protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrates were determined in the proximate analysis. The antimicrobial effect of the mulberry leaf and root were evaluated on gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas syringine, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Shigella dysenterine and Xanthomonas axonopodis.
