The search for solution to malnutrition problem in it various forms particularly in developing countries necessitated the exploration of indigenous plants and spices that has been widely utilized for diverse purposes. The study was aimed at evaluating the nutrients composition of costus lucanusianus stem which include proximate, minerals, vitamins and amino acids analyses. Proximate composition was assessed by AOAC methods, minerals by (AAS), and vitamins by U.V spectrophotometer and amino acid by Gas chromatography spectrophotometer. Proximate composition revealed moisture content (74.87±0.70mg/100g), carbohydrate (19.44±0.98mg/100g), crude fiber (3.24±1.29mg/100g), crude fat (1.10±0.26mg/100g) and ash (0.89±0.19mg/100g) the least. Caloric value (kcal/100g) was 89.54±6.46. Macro and micro minerals includes calcium (28.14±27.11mg/100g),Phosphorous (20.50±17.17mg/100g) and Potassium (18.34±17.12mg/100g) Iron (35.56±17.12) and Zinc (21.91±0.63). Vitamin present include vitamins B2 (1.85±0.65), B6 (1.75 ± 0.01), B9 (1.75 ± 0.01mg/100g), B1 (1.36 ± 0.10mg/100g), A (1.04±0.00mg/100g), and E (1.20. ±0.07mg/100g). Amino acid present include lysine (20.38 ± 0.15mg/100g), threonine (18.58 ± 0.24mg/100g), methionine (16.21 ±0.57mg/100g) and Phenylalanine (13.47 ±0.41mg/100g). Glutamine (41.41±0.93mg/100g), cystein (37.90 ±0.39mg/100g), asparagine (27.25±0.10mg/100g), alanine (23.33±0.40mg/100g), aspartic acid (21.36±0.41mg/100g) and glutamic acid as the least (0.07±0.02mg/100g). Costus lucanusianus stem, could serve as herbal nutritional supplement considering its rich macro and micro nutrients constituent.

The use of medical plants as raw materials in the production of new drugs is ever increasing because of their potentials in combating the problem of drug resistance in microorganisms. The study was aimed at determining quantitative phytochemicals and essential oil constituents of costus lucanusianus stem (spiral ginger). Quantitative phytochemicals and essential oil constituents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC- MS) respectively. Result revealed in decreasing order total saponins (837.38mg/100g) with predominant diosgenin (533.83mg/100g), total tannins (485mg/100g), total flavonoids (261.31mg/100g) with myricetin (138.98mg/100g) as highest, glycosides (51.57mg/100g) with costusoside (25.99mg/100g) as highest, total carotenoids (44.20mg/100g) with carotene (15mg/100g) as highest and lycopene the lowest (3.39×10-6mg/100g) total phytosterol (26.97mg/100g) with sitosterol (18.12mg/100g) as highest phenolics (22.46mg/100g) ferulic (5.00mg/100g) was highest, total isoflavone was (16.96mg/100g), with daidᴢein (5.39mg/100g) being highest others includes anthocyanins (7.73mg/100g), anthroquinone (1.90mg/100g), total terpinoids (0.91mg/100g), total lignin (0.36mg/100g) and total alkaloids was (0.19mg/100g). Essential oil constituents included cis-carvone oxide (3.17g/100mg), Trans geranyl acetate (2.17g/100mg), linanyl acetate (1.26g/100mg), β-mycrene (1.83g/100mg), ɒ-pinene (1.03g/100mg) and carvone and p-acetyl toluene were the least (0.01g/100mg). costus lucanusianus stem is rich in phytochemicals hence could serve as herbal agents in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

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