A comparative study on chemical and total phenolic content of various parts of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Abstract

Background & Aim: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L) Walp) is on of the most ancient crops in the world, and like for many other legumes, its seeds are used for human food and animal feed, and also contain bioactive compounds that may be have useful physiological effects to human health. However, the leaves and pericarps of cowpea are usually neglected and studies around them are few and not optimally invested.

This research aims to investigate on the presence of phytochemicals in seeds, leaves, and pericarps of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp and determination the total phenolic content in the ethanolic exracts 80% of these plant parts.

Results: The results showed the presence of phenoles, flavonoids, saponines, and alkaloids in the leaves, seeds, and pericarps, and presence the tannines in the seeds only.

The highest phenolic content was in the extract of the leaves (30.56 mg/g), followed by the pericarps with phenolic content (21.13 mg/g), then the seeds (14.28 mg/g).