EVALUATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITE PRODUCTION IN NATURAL AND WILD POPULATIONS OF PRUNUS AFRICANA (HOOK.f.) KALMAN ON MOUNT CAMEROON

Abstract

Mount Cameroon, 4,095 m, is a biodiversity hotspot with over 2,300 plant species, including 49 strict endemics, and critical habitats for endangered species. Among its important plants, is Prunus africana, vital medicinal tree primarily harvested for its bark, used to produce pharmaceuticals for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. High bark demand in international markets has led over exploitation and its listing as a vulnerable, endangered species, necessitating sustainable management and cultivation. Prunus africana is extensively cultivated in the Western, North-West, and South-West regions of Cameroon as a critical agroforestry cash crop for its medicinal bark. The narrow natural altitudinal range of Prunus africana in the wild raises questions on whether the phytochemicals produced by this species in agroforestry systems matches those produced by wild populations. The current study was designed to test this hypothesis by collecting root, stem barks and leaf samples for phytochemical analysis from the wild (1672-2094 m altitude) and agroforestry (563-923 m) farms in Mt Cameroon for test for flavonoids, saponins, phenols, tannins, triterpenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides using standard procedures. Results indicate that dbh of sampled trees ranged from 18.9 to 105 cm and 20.1 to 65.3 cm in the wild and agroforestry systems respectively.  Prunus bark thickness increased with dbh, but not significantly, both in the wild and in cultivation.  Acetone was a better extractant than water. Root and stem bark samples systematically showed higher concentration of phytochemicals than leaf samples. Phenolics, tannins and triterpenoids showed little variations in the wild and cultivated samples. Flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids showed lower concentrations in agroforestry systems than from the wild. A borer pest observed in farms was not seen in the wild. We suggest further testing of samples from farms to suit purpose for which they are needed.

Key words: Mount Cameroon, Prunus africana wild populations, Prunus agoforestry, secondary metabolites concentration.

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/17-1-05

Publication date: April 28^th 2025