Abstract The leaves and peels (epicarp) of Musa sapientum var. velutina are generally considered agricultural waste after the fruits have been harvested. Little or no significance is there by attached to their medicinal relevance and nutritional values. This study was carried out to determine the proximate, mineral and phytochemical constituents of banana (M. sapientum) leaves and peels using standard method. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant leaf and peel extracts revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars in the leaves while tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and reducing sugars were found in the peels. The proximate composition results for the leaves and peels showed moisture content (13.57 and 13.68%), ash (6.51 and 10.50%), crude fiber (14.50 and 10.78%), crude fat (3.28 and 3.36%), crude protein (24.16 and 20.39%) and carbohydrate (38.43 and 41.30%) respectively. Mineral analysis revealed that sodium had the highest concentration of 235.60% in the leaves and 198.90% in the peels followed by calcium 110.20% (leaves) and 113.19% (peels). Copper had the least concentration of 0.39% and 0.07% in the leaves and peels respectively. The results of the phytochemical, proximate and mineral composition justify the fact that the leaves and the peels of the banana investigated, possess valuable nutritive and medicinal values which can be used in animal feeds fortification.
Keywords Musa sapientum, animal feed, banana, proximate, medicinal value.