International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278-3202 13 3 2024 08 10 Phytochemical and Proximate Analysis of Leaves and Stem of an under Exploited Medicinal Plant, Maesobotrya barteri (Baill) Hutch. 1 8 EN M.G. Ajuru 1 Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworuokwo, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria V. Wilson 2 Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworuokwo, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria > Research Paper 2022 11 1 2024 08 10 Maesobotrya barteri (Baill.) Hutch. (Bush Cherry), belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is an under exploited medicinal plant, also used for culinary purposes. The fruits of this plant is valued more than the other parts of the plant because of its high medicinal value, as such, parts like stem, leaves, roots are neglected. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the phytochemical and proximate compositions of the leaves and stem of this plant species using standard procedures. Phytochemical results showed that the leaves contain a higher percentage of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) (3.31%), flavonoid (5.53%), alkaloid (2.19%), terpenoid (4.53%), Tannin (1.24%), compared to that found in the stem (1.55%, 3.02%, 0.65%, 3.33%, 0.34%, 0.38% and 25.28%) respectively. Proximate composition indicated that the leaves contain higher percentage of moisture (10.72%) Ash (11.36%), fat (2.00%), Crude protein (16.46%) and carbohydrate (27.74%), compared to the percentage in the stem (7.65%, 4.16%, 1.87%, 5.25% and 4.08%) respectively, but the stem had a higher percentage of crude fibre (77.00%) compared to the leaves (31.73%). These phytochemicals and nutrients could be harnessed by pharmaceutical industries for medicinal and culinary purposes. Copyright@ International Science Community Association