144 International Journal on Integrated Education e-ISSN : 2620 3502 p-ISSN : 2615 3785 Volume 3, Issue X, October 2020 | Proximate and mineral analysis of delonix regia leaves and roots *Alagbe, J.O 1 ., Adeoye, Adekemi 2 and Oluwatobi, A.O 3 1 Department of Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry, Sumitra Research Institute, Gujarat, India; demsonfarms@yahoo.com 2 Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. 3 Department of Agricultural Extension & Management, Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. Abstract - Medicinal plants serves as therapeutic agents as well as raw materials for the manufacture of modern medicines due to the presence bioactive chemicals (phytochemicals) and nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats, amino acids etc.). Among the potential medicinal plants is Delonix regia, therefore this study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral composition in the plant (leaf and root). The result on proximate analysis of Delonix regia leaf (DRL) showed that it contained moisture (8.10 %), dry matter (91.90 %), crude protein (18.77 %), crude fibre (9.85 %), ether extract (1.33 %), ash (5.21 %), nitrogen free extract (56.74 %), carbohydrates (78.54 %) and energy (1703.5 kj/100 g) while Delonix regia root (DSR) contained moisture, dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, nitrogen free extract, carbohydrates and energy at 9.60 %, 90.40 %, 10.63 %, 7.44 %, 2.71 %, 9.30 %, 60.32 %, 90.18 % and 1814 kj/100g respectively. Mineral analysis showed that DSR contained higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, magnesium, sodium, copper, iron and cobalt at 95.43 mg/100g, 40.77 mg/100g, 100.4 mg/100g, 7.21 mg/100g, 14.21 mg/100g, 41.22 mg/100g, 10.2 mg/100g, 1.10 mg/100g and 0.05 mg/100g relative to calcium (77.31 mg/100g), phosphorus (40.35 mg/100g), potassium (51.60 mg/100g), zinc (3.21 mg/100g), magnesium (10.35 mg/100g), sodium (33.18 mg/100g), copper (7.35 mg/100g) and iron (1.89 mg/100g) established in DRL. It was concluded that DRL and DSR contains various nutrients and phytochemicals that produce definite physiological action on the body of animals. Keywords: Delonix regia, minerals, phytochemicals, proximate analysis 1. Introduction Medicinal plants contains phytochemical constituents which are used for the treatment of various human and livestock health disorders all over the world from ancient times to the present day (Oluwafemi et al., 2020; Kavita et al., 2013). WHO (2014) reported that there are over 250, 000 species of medicinal plants and more than 80 % people from developing countries relies on herbal medicines for better health. Medicinal plants have also been reported to been reported to be relatively cheap, efficient and safe (Alagbe et al., 2020). Phytochemical constituents posses important pharmacological properties like antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-nociceptive, antithrombotic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, chemopreventive and cytotoxic effects (Joy et al., 2019; Alagbe, 2019; Manita and Gaurav, 2020). Delonix regia is a leguminous plant belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae. It is found in mostly found in countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brazil, Mexico, China, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Togo, Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Mudagaska (Ogunkoya et al., 2006). The tree can grow up to a height of 9.1 – 18.0 meters with wide spreading umbrella like canopy, the leaves are characterized by long stalks with numerous flowers of about 12 mm long, pods are flat, woody, dark brown, 61 cm long and about 5.1 cm wide (Abulude et al., 2018; Aluyor et al., 2009; Rani et al., 2011; Bake et al., 2014).The plant is rich in phytochemicals such as: saponins, alkaloids, carotene, hydrocarbons, phytotoxins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, carotenoids, galactomannon, lupeol, β-sitosterol, terpenoids, glycosides and carbohydrates, essential minerals, fatty acids and amino acids in leaves, flowers, bark and roots (Ujowundu et al., 2008; Oyedeji et al., 2017). Traditionally, the leaves and stem bark are used for the prevention and treatment of fever, constipation, inflammation, arthritis, hemoplagia, piles, boils, pyorrhea, scorpion bite, bronchitis, asthma and dysmenorrhoea (Rani et al., 2011; Abulude et al., 2011; Banso and Adeyemo, 2006).