Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 44: 2967 - 2971. Published August 29, 2011.
Phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of eight ethnobotanicals used as antimalaria remedies in Ibadan, Nigeria
*Gbadamosi I.T.1, Moody J. O. 2 and Lawal A. M.3
1 & 3 Department of Botany and 2Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: gita4me2004@yahoo.comABSTRACT
Objective: To screen eight plants for phytochemical compounds and proximate constituents that may account for their use in malaria treatment. The plants were Morinda lucida, Adansonia digitata, Khaya senegalensis, Garcinia kola, Alstonia boonei, Piper guineense, Eugenia caryophyllus and Aframomum melegueta..
Methodology and results: The powdered plant samples were analysed for their phytochemical compounds and proximate constituents using standard laboratory methods. The habit of the test plants were 75% trees, 12.5% herbs and 12.5% climbers. The use-value of plant parts was 67% roots, 22% seeds and 11% floral buds. M. lucida, G. kola and K. senegalensis contained anthraquinones, while all the test plants contained cardiac glycosides in varying concentrations. P. guineense and A. melegueta tested negative for saponins. P. guineense showed substantially high content of crude protein (8.75%) whereas A. digitata contained substantially high crude fiber (37.00%).
Conclusion and application of results: This study has contributed to conservation of indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge. Further search for antimalarial plants should include plants from the reported families in this study: Clusiaceae, Bombacaceae, Meliaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Piperaceae and Myrtaceae. However the indigenous people need to be enlightened on the implication of over exploitation of wild plants and the need for conservation of plant genetic resources. The presence of nutrients in the test plants could serve as supplements in their therapeutic activity. P. guineense and A. digitata could be used as food supplements in weaning food owing to their protein and fiber constituents, respectively. Toxicity tests, isolation and identification of active compounds of the test plants could lead to confirmation of their safety in administration and the discovery of novel plant drugs.
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