Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Jatropha Tanjorensis Ellis & Saroja and Leptadenia Hastata (Pers.) Decne
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1010-5441Keywords:
Jatropha Tanjorensis, Leptadenia Hastata, Phytochemical Screening, Ethanolic Leaf Extract, Medicinal PlantsAbstract
The phytochemical composition of a plant extract provides the mechanistic basis for its pharmacological activity. This study screened the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents of ethanolic leaf extracts of J. tanjorensis (JT), L. hastata (LH). The sample was collected, identify and authenticated at the department of Biological Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna. Shade-dried, powdered leaves of both plants were macerated separately in 70% ethanol for 72 hours. Qualitative screening for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones was performed using standard colorimetric and precipitation methods. Total phenolic, flavonoid, alkaloid, tannin and saponin contents were quantified spectrophotometrically and gravimetrically in triplicate. Extraction yields were 9.32% (JT), 10.59% (LH) and 9.93% (combination). Both extracts tested positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides, were all present, while anthraquinones was absent from both extracts. Quantitatively, JT contained significantly higher total phenolics (24.18 ± 0.71mg GAE/g), flavonoids (12.76 ± 0.43mg QE/g), alkaloids (18.24 ± 0.62mg/g) and tannins (8.34 ± 0.28mg TAE/g), whereas LH contained markedly higher total saponins (9.12 ± 0.31mg/g; 2.18-fold higher than JT). Jatropha tanjorensis and Leptadenia hastata possess overlapping but quantitatively distinct phytochemical profiles, with JT favouring phenolic-rich constituents and LH favouring saponin-rich constituents.
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