PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF THE LEAVES OF Launaea (Lactuca) taraxacifolia.

Launaea (Lactuca) taraxacifolia also known as wild (African) lettuce is anethno-pharmacologically significant plant of the Asteraceae family. The was carefully chosen for this study due to its extensive use in traditional herbal practices treat a wide range ailments. extraction leaves phytochemical screening carried out by subjecting air dried pulverized materials into trichloromethane, normal hexane, ethyl ethanoate and methanol solvents period some days, followed filtration concentration. Qualitative extracts above revealed presence saponins, phenols, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, steroids flavonoids. Quantitative analysis phytochemicals showed that saponins occurred withthe greatest concentration 4.26 ± 0.08 %, glycosides with 2.27 0.02 %; while phenols had least 0.13 0.01%. proximate using results obtained crude protein (38.40 1.20 %), fibre (1.565 fat (4.60 0.04 ash (5.02 0.070 moisture (14.91 0.50) available carbohydrates (35.50 1.26 %). calorific value gram per calories estimated be 337 0.70. extraction, purification, concentration, nutritional were at Post-graduates, chemistry bio-chemistry laboratories, Michael Okpara University Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.