Comparative chemical compositions of Moringa oleifera L. leaves from selected locations in South-Eastern Nigeria

Plants have been an important source of medicine and nutrition for decades due to the presence of a variety of phytochemicals and nutritional constituents. Comparative chemical compositions of dried samples of Moringa oleifera L. leaves from selected locations (Afikpo, Abakaliki, Owerri, Okigwe, Umuahia and Aba) in South-Eastern Nigeria were investigated using standard methods. A set of five samples of Moringa oleifera L. leaves from each of the geographical locations were randomly collected, cleaned, air-dried and pulverized. The phytochemical and proximate compositions of the dried Moringa oleifera L. leaves were analyzed. The results of the phytochemical and proximate compositions of Moringa oleifera L. leaves varied significantly (P < 0.05) from one source to another.  The phytochemical analysis recorded the concentrations in mg/100 g with Alkaloid content ranged from 1.37±0.10 in Okigwe to 5.85±0.15 in Umuahia; flavonoid from 8.77±0.78 in Abakaliki to 15.37±0.55 in Umuahia; phenol from 10.00±0.56 in Okigwe to 16.90±1.33 in Umuahia; saponin from 1.05± 0.15 in Abakaliki to 1.20±0.10 in Aba and tannin ranged from 6.75±0.37 in Abakaliki to 8.45±1.24 in Aba.  The proximate analysis recorded the concentrations in % with crude protein ranged from 10.20±0.31-29.21±0.28; moisture from 3.60±0.61-9.64±0.77; ash from 7.20±0.50-16.10±0.45; crude fat from 6.28±0.28-15.20±0.41; crude fibre from 10.75±0.35-30.90±1.17 and carbohydrate from 25.09±1.01-48.99±0.64 respectively. The phytochemical and proximate values obtained in samples from different locations indicate, that the samples have therapeutic, medicinal and nutritional potentials with Umuahia leading in value. These differences observed could be as a result of variations in soil nutrients from the various sources and seasonal variations. It could therefore be concluded that Moringa oleifera L. leaves obtained from Umuahia has more therapeutic, medicinal and nutritional values than those obtained from other locations and could be used to improve health and nutrition in South- Eastern Nigeria.