CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The presence of chemical constituents in plants is important for consuming as nutrition and treatment against several diseases. These phytochemicals are essentially classified into two groups and which are primary and secondary metabolites based on the utility in plant metabolism. The primary metabolites are included common Carbohydrates, Amino acids, Proteins and Chlorophylls while secondary metabolites included of Flavonoids, Saponins, Alkaloids, Tannins, Steroids, and etc (Parekh J, 2007). Likewise, the phytochemical components are the source for various pharmaceutical productions. As such constituents are performing a vital role in the classification of crude drugs (Savithramma N, 2011). Though the using and advantage of plants and its crop for treating of many diseases since old time. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that 80% of the people of developing countries still rely on conventional medicines, often plant drugs, for their primary health care obligations (Mohansundari C, 2007). The diversity in the plant crude extracts has different usages of its potentialities in treating ailments. Additionally, it could use as food preservative also (Bernhoft A, 2011). Mostly, fruits and vegetables showed the significant useful properties, mainly in maintaining a brilliant health and nutritional potentials in the area of prevention and delay in the beginning of chronic diseases and the providing of enzymes and vitamins necessary for suitable body function. Abelmoschus esculentus L., Okra or Lady’s Finger is known by various local names in different parts of the world. E.g. it is called Bamia in Libya; which is distributed widely in Africa, Asia, Southern Europe, and America (Sengkhamparn N, 2009). The mucilage of Abelmoschus esculentus L. binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins deposited into it by the liver. Correspondingly, Abelmoschus esculentus L., the furthermost commonly vegetable yields in Asia and Africa and was carried through North Africa and the areas bordering the Mediterranean and eastward. Moreover, is the vegetable of high value due to its high nutritional importance [9], and contains a great proportion of fibres, which supports to stabilize blood sugar by improving the rate as a result of which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. As well as the presence of these fibres together with other nutrition, which manifests it’s advantageous for lowering blood sugar levels within the body, assisting along with diabetes and the fibres, hence improves the concentration of the blood sugar level by reducing sugar absorption through the intestines (Ngoc T, 2008). Abelmoschus esculentus L. has a beneficial against spermatorrhoea, chronic dysentery and genitourinary illnesses (Adams CF. 2011), its therapeutic importance in relief from haemorrhoids and healing of ulcers.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The demand for vegetable oils is rapidly increasing due to the growing human population and the expanding oil industry with health promoting oil components, the exploration of some underutilized and newer resources of vegetable oils is of much concern (Schalau, J. (2002). “Okra”, which is currently grown mainly as a vegetable crop, has potential for cultivation as an essential oilseed crop because “Okra” seeds contain high amount of oil (20-40%). However, there is also no comprehensive literature information regarding characteristics of the oils produced from “Okra” seeds.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of the research work is carry out a phytochemical analysis constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction. Other specific objectives of the study are:

1.  to determine the chemical composition of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction

2.  to determine physical composition of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction

3.  to determine the health benefits ofbelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction

4.  to proffer solution to the above problems

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to ascertain the above stated objectives. The research questions for the study are:

1.  What is the chemical composition of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction?

2.  What is physical composition of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction?

3.  What are the health benefits ofbelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction?

4.  What is the way forward to the problem of facing the extraction of ethyle acaelete from abelmoschus esculentus?

1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1

H0: the extraction of ethyle acaelete from abelmoschus esculentus does not have good physical attribute

H1: the extraction of ethyle acaelete from abelmoschus esculentus have good physical attribute

Hypothesis 2

H0: the extraction of ethyle acaelete from abelmoschus esculentus does not have good chemical attribute

H1: the extraction of ethyle acaelete from abelmoschus esculentus have good chemical attribute

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on phytochemical analysis constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction will be of immense benefit to the health sector of Nigeria; in the sense that the study will educate the entire population on phytochemical analysis constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction, the study will also serve as a repository of information to other researchers that desire to carry out similar research on phytochemical analysis constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction. Finally the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature on constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on phytochemical analysis constituent of abelmoschus esculentus of ethyle acaelete extraction will cover on health benefit healths of abelmoschus esculentus, the factors affecting abelmoschus esculentus, the physical and chemical composition of abelmoschus esculentus

1.8 DFINITION OF THE STUDY

Okra (abelmoschus esculentus): Okra or okro, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family