Phytochemical Screening of (chrysophyllum albidum) Leaf Extracts

O.A.Ushie[1] ,H.M. Adamu[2] ,O.J. Abayeh[2] ,I.Y. Chindo[2] ,U. Lawal[1]
Page No. 40-46

Chrysophyllum albidum is a medicinal plant used for different diseases. The present work was
aimed to screen this medicinal plant for phytochemical studies. The method of cold maceration was
used in the extraction by serial exhaustive extraction method which involves successive extraction
with solvents of increasing polarity from a non polar (hexane) to a more polar solvent (methanol)
to ensure that a wide polarity range of compound could be extracted. Extracts of Leaf of C. albidum
revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, steroids and
alkaloids in methanol extract and absence of anthraquinone, tannins, glycosides extract. The
phytochemical compounds identified known to be bioactive and have been confirmed have
medicinal as well as physiological activity and therefore could be said to be responsible for the
efficacy of the leaves of the plants studied in treatment of different ailments. These classes of
phytochemical compounds are known to show curative activity against several bacteria and it is not
surprising that these plant extracts are used traditionally by herbalist to cure bacteria related illhealth.
The plant extracts could therefore be seen as a potential source for useful drug and the
continued traditional medicinal use of these plants is therefore encouraged.