Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Phytochemical Contents of Indigenous Nigerian Softwoods
Open Access
- 20 October 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in New Journal of Science
- Vol. 2016, 1-9
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5601327
Abstract
The phytochemical contents of some milled Nigerian softwood chips were carried out in a quest to evaluate their potentials as sources of alternative medicine as well as uses in other industrial applications. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were ascertained. Tannin was found in all the Nigerian softwoods examined with the highest quantities obtained in Sterculia oblonga (1240 mg/100 g) and Barteria nigritiana (1230 mg/100 g). Highest quantities of alkaloid were obtained in Cordia millenii (11.2%) and Sterculia oblonga (10.4%). Barteria nigritiana (14.2%) and Moringa oleifera (12.2%) recorded more flavonoid content than other individual softwoods. Saponin was more in Anogeissus leiocarpus (12.5%) and Dichrostachys cinerea (9.8%). Oxalate was found to be higher in Combretodendron macrocarpum (5.84 g/100 g) and Glyphaea brevis (3.55 g/100 g). Pentaclethra macrophylla (890 mg/100 g) and Moringa oleifera (880 mg/100 g) contained more cyanogenic glycosides. Sacoglottis gabonensis (4.68 mg/g) and Pentaclethra macrophylla (4.04 mg/g) showed the highest contents of phenol, while more lipids (8% and 7.2%) were found in Anogeissus leiocarpus and Kaempferia galanga, respectively. The results showed that these Nigerian softwoods grains could be a source for the exploitation of these phytochemicals beneficial in the pharmaceutical and alternative medicine industries.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Natural alkaloids: basic aspects, biological roles, and future perspectivesChinese Journal of Natural Medicines, 2014
- Phytochemical Screening and Toxicological Studies of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus in RatsAsian Journal of Scientific Research, 2013
- Oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s diseaseBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2000
- Free radicals, oxidative stress, and antioxidants in human health and diseaseJournal of Oil & Fat Industries, 1998
- Antioxidant activities of selected oriental herb extractsJournal of Oil & Fat Industries, 1994
- Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease: the Zutphen Elderly StudyThe Lancet, 1993
- New hexahydroxydiphenyl derivatives as potent inhibitors of HIV replication in H9 lymphocytesBioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 1992
- Studies on dental caries prevention by traditional medicines. VIII. Inhibitory effect of various tannins on glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans.CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, 1986
- Antihepatotoxic Actions of Flavonolignans fromSilybum marianumFruitsPlanta Medica, 1984
- STUDIES ON DIGITALIS. IV. OBSERVATIONS IN MAN ON THE EFFECTS OF DIGITALIS PREPARATIONS ON THE CONTRACTILITY OF THE NON-FAILING HEART AND ON TOTAL VASCULAR RESISTANCEJCI Insight, 1961