Chemoprofiling and Nutritional Potentials of Different Plant Parts of African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata)

Background and Objective: The African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata)-a tropical tree with striking orange-red bell-shaped flowers-has long been valued for its ethno-medicinal properties. However, limited data exist on the comparative chemoprofile and nutritional composition of its leaf and flower. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical bioactives and proximate composition of both parts to assess their nutritional and pharmaceutical potentials. Materials and Methods: Leaves and flowers of S. campanulata were analyzed using standard phytochemical screening and quantitative assays. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) was employed for phenolic compound identification. Proximate composition, including fat, fiber, and protein contents, was determined following AOAC methods. Results: Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and phenols in both parts. Phenols were the most abundant bioactives (leaf: 161.85 mg/100 g; flower: 152.52 mg/100 g), followed by alkaloids and tannins, whereas cardiac glycosides were the least (leaf: 0.29 mg/100 g; flower: 3.19 mg/100 g). The HPLC-DAD revealed ellagic acid, p-coumaric acid, and syringic acid in both parts, while other phenolics were unique to either the leaf or flower. The flower exhibited higher fat (10.84%), fiber (16.13%), and protein (13.64%) contents compared to the leaf, along with a diverse amino acid profile. Conclusion: The African Tulip’s leaf and flower contain rich phytochemical and nutritional compounds with significant medicinal and dietary potential. These findings highlight S. campanulata as a promising source for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.