Phytominerals and Phytochemical Studies of Azadiracthta indica, Leea guineensis and Parkia biglobosa Leaves

Abstract

Medicinal plants have great importance in African medicine and are also used as precursors in drug discovery. The medicinal value of plants lie in their bioactive constituents which usually allow them to fight against several diseases. Plant-based natural constituents can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds. The mineral and phytochemical analysis of the leaves of Azadirachta indica, Parkia biglobosa and Leea guineensis were investigated. The leaves were collected from the Herbal Garden, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Jericho hills, Ibadan, Nigeria and identified at Forest Herbarium Ibadan. Oyo State. The leaves were air dried and milled to powder using a medium-sized milling machine and stored in an air-tight container until needed for analysis. Phytochemical screening/analysis and mineral analysis were determined using standard analytical methods. Phytochemicals like Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Anthraquinone, Cardiac glycoside were determined. while Minerals, such as Potassium, Sodium determined using flame photometer; Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, and Copper were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results indicates that the bioactive contents of the leaves varied significantly (p<0.05) among the medicinal plants. The phytochemical analysis showed that the three medicinal plants contained alkaloid, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, cardiac glycoside and anthraquinone in varying quantities with the trend: A indica > P. biglobosa > L. guineensis; the macro elements showed similar trend as the phytochemicals while the micro elements followed the trend: P. biglobosa > L. guineensis > A indica. These results conceivably indicate that the three medicinal plant are good source of essential minerals and phyto-nutrients which possess strong pharmacological activities and provide scientific credence for its therapeutic usage.

Anti-nutritional Composition, Heavy Metal Content and Mineral Bioavailability of Red Tree Vine (Leea guineensis G. Don) Fruits

“…The presence of various phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, tannins in the L. guineensis fruits reported in this study confirms their therapeutic uses and in conformity with the medicinal properties of secondary plant metabolites [29]. The result obtained in this study was similar to the reports of Awotedu et al [30]. Alkaloids have been reported as the most potent and therapeutically important of all substances isolated from plants which may explain its use against stomach ache, dysentery, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and intestinal worms [31].…”

“…According to the report of Lewis and Elvis-Lewis [33], saponins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and cardiac depressant properties and restrain growth of carcinogenic cells, without necessary destroying the normal cells in the process. Phenol possesses anti-bactericidal and antimicrobial properties which have shown to exert preventive activity ISSN: 2456-7132 Available online at Journals.aijr.in against infectious and degenerative diseases, inflammation and allergies through antioxidant, antimicrobial and proteins [30]. Steroids are of great importance in the pharmaceutical industry due to its function as sex hormones [34].…”

Foliar Micro-Morphology and Phytochemical Status of Leea Guineensis G. Don Leaves

“…Medicinal plants always contain some active substances that have been widely reported to contribute their metabolic, physiologic and protective effects to humans [EDEOGA & ERIATA, 2001]. The result obtained in this study corroborates the one reported for Leea guineensis leaves by AWOTEDU & al. (2019), except for the absence of steroids and phlobatanins.…”

Leea manillensis Walp. Vitaceae

“…The leaves of L. manillensis are combined with other medicinal recipes for a cutaneous bath. In Nigeria, leaf decoction is used for a variety of uses and medications such as pregnancy detection and immunity booster, as well as treatment for gastroenteritis, enlarged spleen, scurvy, rheumatism, malaria, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other diseases and infections caused by bacteria and viruses (Awotedu et al 2019(Awotedu et al , 2020Okafor and Ham 1999;Falodun et al 2007;Jiofack et al 2010;Neji et al 2017.…”

“…Subsequently, Neji et al (2017) found antimicrobial activity of the stem bark alcoholic extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Neji et al 2017). Awotedu et al (2019) recorded the presence of minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper in different quantities. Awotedu et al (2020) further compared the phytochemicals present of L. manillensis leaves using polar and nonpolar solvents.…”