Physicochemical and phytochemical screening of six plants commonly used in the treatment of malaria in Nigeria.

Abstract

Medicinal plants contain active compounds usually present as complex mixtures though at low concentrations, which accounts for the medicinal properties. Therefore it is important to identify and characterize these compounds. This study aims to quantify and characterize the physicochemical and phytochemical compositions of six plants commonly used in the treatment of malaria using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). These plants which are used individually or in combinations: Enantia chlorantha, Cymbopogon citratus, Curcuma longa, Carica papaya, Alstonia boonei and Mangifera indica, were extracted with hot water and the extracts characterized with HPLC using standard procedures. The results showed that M. indica stem bark had the highest yield with 81.48% and C. papaya had the lowest yield with 53.80%. Physicochemical properties of the extracts of E. chlorantha, C. citratus, C. longa, C. papaya, A. boonei and M. indica respectively are as follows: Melting point 90, 80, 95, 92, 96 and 96; pH 7.43, 8.02, 6.24, 6.81, 6.41, 6.85; moisture content 18.27, 22.77, 9.96, 9.62, 3.85 and 10.00; Total ash 1.45, 3.51, 0.34, 0.57, 9.10,10.21; refractive index 1.34, 1.34, 1.34, 1.34, 1.34, 1.34 and 1.34. Alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, coumarin were some of the antimalarial active phytochemicals identified. Alkaloid (Atropine) was highest in C. longa (4382.2mg/g). M. indica (32982.8mg/g) had the highest Rutin Hydrate content. While Quercetin was not detected in C. papaya, it was considerably present in A. boonei (491.1mg/g). All the analyzed six plants contain low phenol (gallic acid). The characterized physicochemical and phytochemical compositions of the examined plants suggests why the plants are effective in the treatment of malaria. The information reported herein describes the physicochemical and phytochemical contents of six commonly used antimalarial plants in Nigeria. It is expected that the information will be useful in understanding the pharmaceutical effects of how the plants work in the body and in the development of efficacious and safe antimalarial drugs.