ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 7 (5), pp. 383-386, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of the phytochemical components of some Nigerian medicinal plants
H.O. Edeoga1*, D. E. Okwu2 and B.O Mbaebie1
1Departments of Biological Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike P.M.B 7267,Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
2Deapartment of Chemical Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike P.M.B 7267,Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected].
Accepted 09 June, 2017
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.