Phytochemical, Phenolic, and Proximate Contents of Cucumis sativus Extracts

Background and Objective: Cucumis sativus (cucumber) is known to contain a variety of bioactive substances and phytochemicals. Some of these chemical compounds have been linked to the plant’s pharmacological effects. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical, phenolic, and proximate contents of Cucumis sativusextracts.Materials and Methods: Cucumis sativus fruits were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, and extracted using aqueous and ethanol solvents. Proximate and phytochemical compositions were determined using standard methods. Total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and proanthocyanidin contents were quantified spectrophotometrically. The study spanned six months at the University of Benin, Nigeria. Results: The results of phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and other polyphenolics. Phenols and saponins were present in the highest concentration (11.79±0.73 and 8.50±0.37%, respectively), while glycosides and tannins (2.13±0.01 and 2.60±0.15%, respectively) were present in the least amounts. Proximate analysis indicated low moisture content (7.69±0.34%), crude fat (7.91±0.24%), ash (3.89±0.22%), fibre (3.00±0.24%), high protein (24.25±0.80%), and nitrogen-free substances (NFS) (53.59±1.04%). While the ethanol extract had significantly higher total phenol, total flavonoid, flavonol, and proanthocyanidin contents were significantly higher in the aqueous extract than in the ethanol extract (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicate that C. sativus is a reservoir of potentially useful chemical compounds that may serve as drugs and provide newer leads and clues for modern drug design.