Telfairia occidentalis and Gongronema latifolium commonly known as Ugu and Utazi respectively are green leaves consumed by both man and animals in Nigeria,The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of these leaves showed the presence of alkaloids,reducing sugars, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and proteins in both leaves while, steroids and phenols are present in large amount in Gongronema latifolium but absent in Telfairia occidentalis. However, the amount of alkaloids was high in Gongronema latifolium but low in Telfairia occidentalis. Phytate was absent in Gongronema latifolium but present in Telfairia occidentalis. The result of the quantitative analysis collaborated evidence for the large amount of flavonoids such as anthrocyanin, catechin, epicatechin, rutin and kaemferol. Alkaloid such as ribalimidine was detected as well as oxalate and phenols in large amounts in Gongronema latifolium but not in Telfairia occidentalis.Phytate and spartein were not quantitatively detected in Gongronema latifolium but were recorded in Telfairia occidentalis. Rutin and catechin has the highest concentrations in both leaves, while anthocyanin has the lowest concentration in both leaves. Ribalimidine has concentrations 19.140Î¼g/g in Gongronema latifolium and 1.824 Î¼g/g in Telfairia occidentalis. Thus, this study confirms that the bitter taste of Gongronema latifolium is attributable to the high levels of alkaloids and steroids. The presence of other phytochemicals are responsible for the utility of these leaves as food supplement and as prophylactics.
Keywords: Qualitative, Quantitative, phytochemicals, Gongronema latifolium, Telfairia occidentalis.