www.ijstr.org Biochemical AND PHYTO –CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RUBBER LATEX (Hevea Brasiliensis) OBTAINED FROM A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT IN NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT: The biochemical and phyto-chemical characteristic of rubber latex (Hevea brasiliensis) was investigated under laboratory conditions. Proximate composition, mineral contents, non-metallic constituents, metallic constituents, phyto-chemical constituents and n-hexane extract components of the latex were analysed. The proximate composition consisted of 60.17 ± 0.01 % moisture, 2.523 ± 0.01 % crude fat, 2.966 ± 0.01 % ash, 1.8 ± 0.1 % crude fibre, 2.133 ± 0.05 % crude protein and 30.47 ± 0.01 % carbohydrate while mineral contents consisted of 0.016 ± 0.001 mg/l Cu, 0.082 ± 0.00 mg/l Zn, 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/l Pb and 0.018 ± 0.001 mg/l Mn. Non-metallic constituents included 2.21 ± 0.001 mg/l nitrate, 0.613 ± 0.001 mg/l nitrite, 0.100 ± 0.00 mg/l Chloride, 0.616 ± 0.001 mg/l sulphate, 0.740 ± 0.01 mg/l phosphate and 0.1 ± 0.00 mg/l ammonia, while phytochemical constituents included 3.492 ± 0.1 mg/l hydrocyanic acid, 0.635 ± 0.01 mg/l phytic acid, 0.433 ± 0.01 mg/l alkaloids with oxalate showing negativity in the latex and n-hexane having a value of 2.194 mg/l at 430 nm wavelength