Comparing the Phytochemical Composition of Some Plant Parts Commonly Used in the Treatment of Malaria

Abstract

Malaria is endemic to Africa in which Nigeria is th e largest country. Medicinal plants are harvested widely in parts or a s a whole due to the curative effects derived from their phytochemicals. It is co mmon knowledge that just about 10% of the total plants have their phytochemicals khence the desire to investigate the various phytochemicals present in t he plant parts. Variation in the phytochemicals present in the leaf, root and stem b ark of some frequently used Nigerian medicinal plants - Adansonia digitata, Als tonia boonei, Anacardium occidentalis, Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, Ch romolaena odorata, Chrysophyllum albidum and Citrus aurantifolia in th e treatment of malaria were therefore investigated. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponin s and phenolic acids in various concentrations as there were significant difference s (p<0.05) between these phytochemicals and their plant parts. The presence of varied active ingredients in the different parts of these plants explains their dive rse use in the treatment of different disease conditions. The research into the isolation and identification of these active ingredients in the different plant parts will help to authenticate the diverse claims of herbal practitioners on the use of plants and their parts in the cure of several diseases.