Micronutrient and phytochemical screening of a commercial Morinda citrifolia juice and a popular blackcurrant fruit juice commonly used by Athletes in Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical constituents of a commercial Morinda citrifolia juice and a popular blackcurrant fruit juice used by athletes in Nigeria. The popular fruit juice was used as a placebo in the study which compared its ergogenic effect to that of Morinda citrifolia juice. The placebo juice was chosen in this double-blind study because it is indistinguishable from the Morinda citrifolia juice in colour, flavor and taste. The Morinda citrifolia and a popular blackcurrant fruit juice were tested for the presence of bioactive compounds using standard methods. Three milliliter (ml) of each juice was measured into a test tube for each test. Phytochemicals tested for were phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, acidic components, resins and phylobatannin using standard methods. While the micronutrients tested for include proteins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars and lipids. Two duplicates were maintained for each test. From qualitative phytochemical screening, it was observed that the fruit juice of M. citrifolia L. contains secondary metabolites such as reducing sugars, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and acidic components. They do not contain anthraquinones, phylobatannins and resins. The result also showed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The results also show slight presence of protein, carbohydrate, reducing sugars, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, alkaloids, lipids and fats, as well as acidic compounds in the placebo juice. There were no cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, anthraquinones, phylobatannins and resins. From quantitative phytochemical screening, it was observed that the crude extracts of M. citrifolia and the placebo juice contain different amounts of secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids. M. citrifolia juice has higher amounts of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids than the placebo juice. So, although these two juices are used as energy drinks by sports persons and healthwatchers, they differ in their production of secondary metabolites. Further analysis showed that M. citrifolia juice does not contain any toxic or prohibited substance. The result highlights the fact that the studied drinks are potential sources of phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial agents which may be useful for pharmaceutical industries and could be used as an effective nutraceuticals. However, further studies are needed to isolate and purify the bioactive compounds of this useful traditional plant Morinda citrifolia for industrial drug formulation and drug development programmes. [Anugweje KC. Micronutrient and phytochemical screening of a commercial Morinda citrifolia juice and a popular blackcurrant fruit juice commonly used by Athletes in Nigeria. World Rural Observ 2015;7(1):40-48]. ISSN: 1944-6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub. net/rural. 6