Basic information on plant species is important for the improvement of the species. This study was carried out to investigate and understand the biology, utilization and phytochemical composition of Gongronema latifolium which is a spice plant growing in the humid forest vegetation of South-Eastern Nigeria. Results showed that the species had culinary and medicinal properties. G. latifolium has simple and opposite leaves, dehiscent seed pod (follicle), that opens along a single seam. The seeds are flat with white hairy pappus, The flowers are bisexual, regular with pale yellow coloured petals and superior ovary. Phytochemical analysis of the tender fruits and mature leaves of Gongronema latifolium revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, phytic acid and hydrocyanic acid. The phytochemicals were higher in the fruitscompared to the leaves (P<0.001) except the flavonoids which were higher in the leaves than in the fruits (P<0.001). The presence of these phytochemicals account for the nutriceutical /medicinal properties of Gongronema latifolium. Determination of PhytochemicalsAlkaloids: 2 g of sample were weighed and added to 1 ml of concentrated acetic acid and ethanol (1:2), covered and kept to stand for 4 hrs then filtered and concentrated in a water bath to one-quarter (1/4) of the original volume. Concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added drop-wise to the extract until the precipitate formation was completed. It was then allowed to settle and washed and filtered with dilute ammonium hydroxide solution. The residue was dried in an oven and taken as crude alkaloid. It was weighed and recorded.Tannins: Tannin was extracted from 0.5 g of the sample with methanol then purified with Whatman filter paper. Colour was developed using Vanillin hydrochloric acid reagent and the concentration was quantitatively measured using a spectrophotometer at 500 nm.Saponins: 2 g of sample were extracted with ethanol which was subsequently removed using a rotary evaporator. The solution was washed with diethyl ether until colorless. The pH was adjusted to 5.0 with sodium chloride. Finally, it was extracted with n-butanol and washed with sodium chloride and evaporated to dryness to give saponins which were weighed and recorded.Flavonoids: 2 g of samples were extracted with 100 ml of 80% aqueous methanol at room temperature until the supernatant became colorless. The solution was filtered through Whatman filter paper. The filtrate was transferred into a beaker and evaporated to dryness over a hot plate to give flavonoids which was weighed and recorded.Phenols: 2 g of samples were weighed and 50 ml of ether was added. The slurry was agitated for 15 minutes. 5 ml amyl alcohol was added and allowed for 30 minutes for the development of the color. The concentration of the solution was determined using uv-vis spectrophotometer at 505 nm.Phytic acid: 2 g of sample were weighed and added to 25 ml of 0.5 N NaCl then was shaken for 30 minutes. 2 ml of ferric chloride was added to the extract. The pre...
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