Phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants of the West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants have been vital for human health for many years due to their restorative properties. Phytochemicals contribute to medicinal plants' healing power, including flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, exudates, terpenes, alkaloids, and phenolics. Several medicinal herbs used by the local community have unknown phytochemical compositions. Knowing the phytochemical composition helps identify bioactive compounds that can be further developed into pharmaceutical drugs. Hence, this study aims to look into the phytochemical composition of Vernonia iodocalyx and Myrica. salicifolia, which is extensively used in Tanzanian traditional medicine.

Methodology: The extracts from methanol and petroleum ether were obtained through the Soxhlet extraction technique. Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted using standard methods, while GC-MS analysis was used for in-depth analysis of the identified phytochemicals.

Results: According to the test tube reaction method data, methanolic extract outperformed petroleum ether extracts regarding phytochemical compositions. GC-MS analysis revealed that Vernonia iodocalyx and Myrica salicifolia contained 21 and 22 phytochemicals, respectively. Out of the identified phytochemicals, 7 from Vernonia iodocalyx and 5 from Myrica salicifolia have been reported to possess different bioactive compounds essential for drug synthesis.

Conclusion: Methanolic leaf extract of both Vernonia iodocalyx and Myricasalicifolia has a satisfactory number of phytochemicals. Hence, these plants are recommended for the isolation of active compounds for pharmacological studies.