DETERMINATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND MELATONIN CONTENT OF SELECTED FOOD STUFFS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
ELIZABETH OCHANYA AGBEHI1*, CELINA ONOTSE OGAH1, STEPHENIE CHINWEDUM ALARIBE1
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 17(3): 377-384; 2025
ABSTRACT
Nigeria’s rich biodiversity includes many underutilized foods with potential nutraceutical benefits. This study investigated the melatonin content and phytochemical diversity of fifteen commonly consumed Nigerian plant-based foods to assess their potential for use in managing sleep disorders as alternatives to synthetic drug treatments. Samples of cassava, yam, sweet potato, corn, rice, beans, banana, watermelon, orange, pineapple, tomato, onion, garlic, mushroom and walnut were purchased from local markets in Lagos, Nigeria. The samples were prepared and subjected to solvent extraction using hexane:methanol: water (3:3:1). Standard qualitative phytochemical screening of the extract targeted seven bioactive classes of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and steroids. Melatonin levels of the samples were quantified using validated HPLC‐DAD after clean-up with solid phase extraction cartridges and filtration using 0.22 µm PTFE syringe filters. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed substantial variability among the food samples, with cassava and orange containing all the phytochemicals tested. Melatonin content was found in the range of 2.62 – 64.31 ng/mL with pineapple having the highest concentration and watermelon, tomato, walnut, garlic and onion containing no detectable levels. These results indicate the nutraceutical potential of some Nigerian foods and the need for further investigation into bioavailability and health implications especially regarding sleep regulation.
Keywords: Melatonin, Phytochemicals, Nigerian foods, Sleep, Nutraceuticals.
Email of correspondence: elizabethagbehi@gmail.com;
https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2025.3.14 ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)