ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 14 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal plants
H.O. Edeoga1*, D. E. Okwu2 and B.O Mbaebie1
Departments of 1Biological and 2Chemical Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike P.M.B 7267,Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Accepted 21 February, 2020
Abstract
Alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroid, terpenoid, flavonoids, phlobatannin and cardic glycoside distribution in ten medicinal plants belonging to different families were assessed and compared. The medicinal plants investigated were Cleome nutidosperma, Emilia coccinea, Euphorbia heterophylla, Physalis angulata, Richardia bransitensis, Scopania dulcis, Sida acuta, Spigelia anthelmia, Stachytarpheta cayennensis and Tridax procumbens. All the plants were found to contain alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids except for the absence of tannins in S. acuta and flavonoids in S. cayennsis respectively. The significance of the plants in traditional medicine and the importance of the distribution of these chemical constituents were discussed with respect to the role of these plants in ethnomedicine in Nigeria.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, ethnomedicine, phytochemical constituents.