The medicinal value of any plant derives largely from its endowed chemical substances responsible for the observed pharmacological action(s). The present study therefore, evaluated the distribution of these constituents viz: phytochemicals, proximate composition and vitamin content of the stem and root bark of Nauclea latifolia. The result revealed the presence of relatively high amounts of antioxidant vitamins (mg/100g) in the samples: Vitamin E (106.25±3.90 and 69.75 ±2.78), Vitamin C (74.80 ± 4.40 and 45.14 ±2.87) and Vitamin A (103.18 ±1.98 and 89.83) in the stem and root bark extracts respectively. The proximate composition (%) analysis indicated moisture content (7.00± 0.03 and 15.01 ±0.02), ash (15.00±0.03 and 12.00± 0.04), fat (24.03 ±0.05 and 32.04 ±0.02) and crude protein (94.84 ±0.06 and 0.64 ±0.06) in the stem and roots respectively. Amongst other phytochemicals, the saponins (12.01± 0.01 and 5.59±0.01), total flavonoids (1.01± 0.01 and 0.51 ±0.01), total alkaloids (8.02 ±0.01 and 13.53 ±1.00) and tannins (0.25± 0.00 and 0.25 ± 0.00) were also determined in the stem and root bark respectively. Overall, the results suggest that Nauclea latifolia could be a potential source of pharmacologically active natural products and/or for development of neutraceuticals.
