Phytochemical screening and mineral composition of the bark of some medicinal trees in Ondo State, Nigeria
Richard Odunayo Akinyeye* and Ayomadewa Mercy Olatunya
Research Article | December 2014
Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Journal, Vol. 2(3), pp. 44-49
Department of Chemistry (Analytical Unit), Ekiti State University, P. M. B. 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: richardakinyeye@gmail.com. Tel: +2347032770985.
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The bark of some medicinal trees (Alstonia boonei, Pycnanthus angolensis, Anacardium occidentale, Mangifera indica, Khaya iroresis, Nauclea diderichii, Morinda lucida and Bridelia micrantha) found in Nigeria were analysed for mineral composition and phytochemical screening. The mineral composition were determined and found to contain some elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, lead and phosphorous in high concentrations. The result of the phytochemical study revealed presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, phlobatanin, terpenoids, flavonoids and cardiac glycoside in most of the samples. The percentages of tannin (1.75 to 3.32); saponin (2.58 to 4.11) and flavonoid (1.86 to 4.13) were generally high in all the samples studied with M. lucida having the highest value for tannin
(3.32%) and flavonoid (4.13%). The presence of these phytochemicals in the result is an attestation that the trees are potentially medicinal. The data for the relative mineral concentration from each tree is compared and appraised as potential sources of good health support for humans.
Keywords: Phytochemical screening, mineral analysis, bark, medicinal trees.
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Citation: Akinyeye RO, Olatunya AM (2014). Phytochemical screening and mineral composition of the bark of some medicinal trees in Ondo State, Nigeria. Med. Aromat. Plant Res. J. 2(3): 44-49.
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