E3 Journal of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research
E3 Journal of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 3 (2) pp. 42 - 46, April 2012; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2141-7474
Comparative study of the phytochemical composition of the leaves of five Nigerian medicinal plants
Eleazu, C.O. * , Eleazu, K.C. , Awa, E , Chukwuma, S.CNational Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: eleazon@yahoo.com
Accepted 31 March 2012
Abstract
The percentage phytochemical composition of the leaves of pawpaw, bitter kola, tetrapleura, neem and ginger was investigated using the methods of the Association of analytical chemists, Harbone and the Alkaline picrate method. The saponin content of pawpaw, though not significantly different from bitter kola, was the highest among other plants while ginger had the least. The alkaloid content of tetrapleura was significantly higher than other plants studied (P < 0.05) while pawpaw had the least. The tannin contents of all the plants indicated that they were in moderate amounts. Pawpaw and ginger whose tannin contents were statistically the same contained higher quantities of tannins than other plants while bitter kola contained the least. In addition, the tannin contents of both neem and tetrapleura were also the same. The flavonoids in ginger, pawpaw, tetrapleura and neem were observed to be statistically the same while they were higher than that of bitter kola. Neem contained the highest amounts of cyanogenic glucosides among other plants while pawpaw contained the least. Results show that the cyanogenic glucoside contents of the plants were below the toxic level for man. The presence of tannin in all the plants investigated indicated that they could be used in the treatment of burns and wounds. Finally, the high alkaloid and flavonoids contents of the plants, suggests their antioxidant potentials and justifies their therapeutic actions, which could be used in drug formulation.
Keywords: Comparative Evaluation, Leaves, Therapeutic, Phytochemical
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