Journal of Agricultural Technology 2013, Vol. 9(2): 439-449 439 Nutritional and phytochemical compositions of fireweed (Crassocephalum crepidioides) Arawande, Jacob Olalekan 1* , Komolafe, Eniayo Ayodeji 2 and Imokhuede, Bamidele 1 1 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic P.M.B. 1019 Owo, Ondo-State, Nigeria, 2 Department of Food Science Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic P.M.B. 1019 Owo, Ondo-State, Nigeria. Arawande, Jacob Olalekan, Komolafe, Eniayo Ayodeji and Imokhuede, Bamidele (2013) Nutritional and phytochemical compositions of fireweed ( Crassocephalum crepidioides). Journal of Agricultural Technology 9(2):439-449. The stems and leaves of fireweed were cut into smaller pieces, dried and ground into very fine powder. The powdered sample was analyzed for proximate and mineral constituents and this was further subjected to extraction using acetone, chloroform, ethylacetate, methanol and water. The powdered sample as well as its solvent-extracts was screened for phytochemicals. The result revealed that moisture, crude protein, lipid, ash, crude fibre, carbohydrate and food energy value were 10.160.22%, 15.090.42%, 2.480.21%, 13.150.18%, 13.270.14%, 56.010.17% and 306.721.02Kcal/100g respectively. The mineral composition of fireweed was calcium (105.090.62mg/Kg), sodium (64.860.43mg/Kg), potassium (791.401.08mg/Kg), magnesium (20.340.17mg/Kg), iron (1.920.01mg/Kg), manganese (2.160.09mg/Kg), while zinc, lead, copper and selenium ranged between 0.090.00mg/Kg and 0.140.00mg/Kg. It was found out that the powdered sample contained flavonoid, phenol, oxalate, tannin, saponin, phytate and ascorbic acid but no alkaloid was present. Water extract contained all the phytochemicals present in the sample but methanol extract contained all the phytochemicals present in the sample except flavonoids. It was only phytate found in ethylacetate extract. Chloroform extract contained phytate and ascorbic acid while acetone extract contained oxalate, saponin, phytate and ascorbic acid. Fireweed is very rich in nutrient and methanol as well as water is very effective in extracting bioactive materials from the sample than ethylacetate, chloroform and acetone. Key words: Fireweed, Proximate, Mineral, Solvent-Extracts and Phytochemicals. Introduction Fireweed is one of the neglected and under-utilized vegetables among the Yorubas in Nigeria. One of the major reasons among others for neglecting the plant is because of the unpleasant odour (aroma) that is inherent in the * Corresponding author: Arawande, Jacob Olalekan; e[mail: joawande1@yahoo.com Journal of Agricultural Technology 2013 Vol. 9(2): 439-449 Available online http://www.ijat-aatsea.com ISSN 1686-9141