QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THORN EXTRACTS OF CANTHIUM PARVIFLORUM LAM

Abstract

Canthium parviflorum commonly known as karai was one of the member of the family Rubiaceae. Qualitative phytochemical screening of Canthium parviflorum thorn was studied. Five solvents viz; methanol, ethyl acetate, water, hexane and acetone were used to obtain extracts from powdered plant part. The extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using standard procedures. Results show that 11 of 23 phytochemicals screened were present in various solvents of thorn extract. They are betacyanin, quinones, coumarins, carbohydrates, aminoacids, terpenoids, fixed oils and fats, flavanoids, cardiac glycosides, volatile oils and starch. However, acids, alkaloids, resins, phenols, saponins, gums and mucilages, steroids, tannins, anthroquinones, emodols, proteins, phlobatannins and reducing sugars were completely absent in all the five solvents of thorn extract. The results also shows that betacyanin, quinones, coumarins, terpenoids, fixed oils and fats, flavanoids, and volatile oils were more readily extracted by acetone thorn extract of Canthium parviflorum. Less separation of compound is recorded from hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous and methanolic thorn extracts. The diversity of phytochemicals found present suggests that Canthium parviflorum thorn could serve as a source of useful drugs.