Mineral and phytochemical evaluation of Zea mays husk

The mineral elements and phytochemicals present in Z. mays husk an agricultural waste were identified and quantified using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Calcium, sulphur and potassium which are essential mineral elements in human and animal nutrition were the most abundant with concentrations 61.74 mg/g, 38.02 mg/g and 31.14 mg/g respectively. The major phytochemicals in the ethanolic extract were phenols, flavan-3-ol, steroids, flavanones, proanthocyanins and resveratrol which were in the concentrations 12.35 mg/g, 10.74 mg/g, 10.03 mg/g, 9.19 mg/g, 5.40 mg/g and 3.36 mg/g respectively. These compounds have shown pharmacological and therapeutic activities in different studies.