Comparative Phytochemical Investigation of the Various Parts of Vitellaria Paradoxa

Abstract

Percentage yield of leaf, bark and root of Vitellaria paradoxa was determined after extraction with different solvents (methanol, omidun, sterile omidun and water). Quantity of phytochemical constituents in each solvent extract was also determined. The yield range was found highest in methanol extract, followed by omidun extract, sterile omidun and water extracts also in bark extracts (9.33 to 28.80%) followed by root extracts (18.13 to 20.80%) and lowest in leaf extracts (12.00 to 15.46%). Phytochemical results revealed the presence of ten phytochemical constituents at varying quantities but with no significant difference (p< 0.05) among all the solvent extracts. Methanol extracts yielded slightly higher amount of phytochemicals followed by sterile omidun, omidun and sterile distilled water extracts respectively. Oxalate was found present in large amount; other classes were present in moderate quantities: tannin, saponin, flavonoid and anthraquinine. While alkaloid, steroid, terpene, phlobatannin and cardiac glycoside were present in small quantities. Though, methanol is a better solvent for extraction, the use of omidun as extraction solvent was neither a bad choice of solvent.

Key words: Vitellaria paradoxa, percentage yield, sterile, yield.