Comparative Analysis of Phytochemical Composition of Four Selected Tropical Medicinal Plants Namely: Ocimum gratissimum, Piper guineense, Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the phytochemical composition of the leaves of four selected tropical medicinal plants namely: Ocimum gratissimum, Piper guineense, Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina.
 Methodology: The phytochemicals in the plant leaves were extracted by cold maceration in ethanol and subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals.
 Results: The qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed the presence of the bioactive compounds alkaloids, Saponins, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, terpenoids, polyphenols, specific cardiac glycosides, tannins, phytates and reducing compound in the leaves of each plant at varying quantities. Resins were only detected in O. gratissimum. From the quantitative analysis, Gongronema latifolium had the highest percentage content of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins and reducing sugars. Ocimum gratissimum had the highest flavonoid content.
 Conclusion: Taken together, G. latifolium on balance had a higher phytochemical content than the other three plants and thus should be more versatile in the treatment of a whole range of diseases. This was followed by V. amygdalina, O. gratissimum and P. guineense in that order. The fact that most of these phytochemicals have antioxidant activity may be responsible for their antidiabetic activities and use in treatment of other free radical prone diseases.

Nutritional composition and antinutrient content of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. leaves: An underutilized wild vegetable

“…Vitamins A, C, and E are great sources of antioxidants and are also vital in proper functioning of the eyes, growth and development, immune function, and reproduction (Shemishere et al., 2018). The significant amount of vitamins A and E and the high vitamin C content of H. arborescens leaves suggest that it may be beneficial in the prevention of a wide range of diseases such as coronary heart disease, anemia, heart diseases, cancers, and other degenerative diseases (Mgbeje et al., 2019). The present results revealed higher vitamins A, C, and E contents compared with some other common vegetables in Africa such as Ocimum gatissimun, Gongronema latifolium, Piper guineense , Vernonia amygdalina (Mgbeje et al., 2019), and Celosia argentea (Adegbaju et al., 2019).…”

“…The significant amount of vitamins A and E and the high vitamin C content of H. arborescens leaves suggest that it may be beneficial in the prevention of a wide range of diseases such as coronary heart disease, anemia, heart diseases, cancers, and other degenerative diseases (Mgbeje et al., 2019). The present results revealed higher vitamins A, C, and E contents compared with some other common vegetables in Africa such as Ocimum gatissimun, Gongronema latifolium, Piper guineense , Vernonia amygdalina (Mgbeje et al., 2019), and Celosia argentea (Adegbaju et al., 2019). Vitamin C content of H. arborescens leaves has also proven to be higher than Spinacea oleracea , Brassica oleracea, and Allium sativum (Bangash et al., 2011).…”

Comparative Proximate, Vitamin and Mineral Composition of Leaves of Four Selected Tropical Vegetable Plants Namely: Ocimum gratissimum, Piper guineense, Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina

“…In summary, the leaves of the four plants, P. guineense, O. gratissimum, V. amygdalina and G. latifolium, have been shown to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fats, vitamins and minerals justifying their use in diets. Taken together with earlier work on the comparative phytochemical analysis of the leaves of these four plants [7], the findings may explain the therapeutic uses of the various preparations of these leafy vegetables in traditional medicine for the treatment and management of diseases that have their etiology and pathophysiology in free radical generation and oxidative stress like diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism, eye problems and infectious diseases such as AIDS.…”

“…A comparative analysis of the proximate, vitamin and mineral composition of the four plants will provide a bio-rational basis for the choice of the plants for addressing some nutrient deficiency. Earlier work in our laboratory had carried out a comparative analysis of the phytochemical composition of the four plants [7].…”

Can Crude Oil Exploration Influence the Phytochemicals and Bioactivity of Medicinal Plants? A Case of Nigerian Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum

“…More than forty compounds belonging to several classes of secondary metabolites with differing bioactivities have been isolated and characterised from VAL and OGL. The isolated compounds have shown a broad spectrum of activities ranging from antifeedant [ 7 ], antischistosomal [ 8 ], antiplasmodial [ 9 ], antioxidant [ 10 ], anti-inflammatory [ 11 ] and anticancer activities [ 12 ].…”