Qualitative and Quantitave Evaluation of the Phytochemicals in Dry, Wet and Oil Extracts of the Leaf of Morinda lucida

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the quality and quantity of phytochemicals present in the dry, wet and oil of the leaves of Morinda lucida using standard methods. The phytochemicals detected were flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, tannins, saponin, terpenoids and steroids. The quantitative analyses showed that oil extract had the highest total phenolics content (TPC: 2.11 mg GEA/g), total flavonoids content (TFC: 10.21 mg QE/g), total saponins content (TSC: 14.95 mg DE/100g) and Total tannins content (TTC: 1.09 mg GAE/g) followed by dry leaf extract (TPC: 1.34 mg GEA/g; TFC: 5.18 mg QE/g; TSC: 10.24 mg DE/100g; and TTC: 0.55 mg GAE/g) and the least was recorded for the wet leaf extract (TPC: 0.45 mg GEA/g; TFC: 2.61 mg QE/g; TSC: 7.19 mg DE/100g; and TTC: 0.37 mg GAE/g). The overall results showed that the oil extract of a Morinda lucida leaf is rich in phytochemicals than dry and wet leaf extracts and any analyses should be done using the oil.

Keywords: Phytochemicals, leaf, Morinda lucida, dry, wet, oil