Over the years, humans have relied on traditional medicine to meet their health needs. In the past, researches into medicinal plants led to the isolation of compounds: quinine and artemisinin, still used in modern medicine for malaria treatment. This study therefore investigated the phytochemical constituents of eight medicinal plants (Nauclea latifolia, Dialium guineense, Alstonia boonei, Newbouldia laevis, Dennettia tripetala, Picralima nitida, Combretum molle, and Crateva adansonii) still used in malaria treatment in Nigeria. The phytochemical constituents were determined using qualitative analysis through standard colour-based and precipitation assays, while quantitative contents were determined using gravimetric methods, colorimetric assays and solvent-partitioning techniques as required. Preliminary screening of the plants showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics and saponins in all the extracts. Dennettia tripetala and Picralima nitida contained all the phytochemicals screened. The quantitative analysis revealed the highest concentration of flavonoids (20.0±0.00 mg/g) in Crativa adansonii, though there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean values for Crativa adansonii, Dennettia tripetalia, Picralima nitida and Combretum mole. The highest concentrations of alkaloids (212.0±1.62 mg/g) and tannins (88.20±0.90 mg/g) were found in Combretum molle. Picralima nitida gave the highest concentration of saponins (32.50±0.33 mg/g) while the phenolic content (35.40±0.20 mg/g) was highest in Dialium guineense. These results justify the therapeutic action of these plants in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria and suggest their potential as antimalarial agents which could be isolated for the chemotherapy of human malaria.
Uchenna Blessing Alozieuwa (Mon,) studied this question.