Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Albizia Adianthifolia(Ayek) and Gardenia Ternifolia(Odwong), two selected local herbs used for treating Tuberculosis in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Phytochemicals are plant secondary metabolites with health curative benefits. This study aimed to identifying and quantifying the phytochemical constituents content present in Albizia adianthifolia root and stem bark and Gardenia ternifolia root which are used to treat Tuberculosis (TB) in Northern Uganda. In this study four extraction solvents (methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether and water) were used to extract phytochemicals in all three samples using the standard methods. The study showed that general quinones, phytosterols, triterpenes, saponin, anthraquinone glycosides, coumarin glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, steroid glycosides and cardiac glycosides were present in all three samples; A. adianthifolia root and stem bark and Gardenia Ternifolia root in varying levels in different extraction solvents used. Flavonoids and coumarin were present only in A. Adianthifolia root and Gardenia Ternifolia root while Gallic Tannins and catechol tannins were present in A. Adianthifolia root, stem bark and Gardenia Ternifolia root respectively. Alkaloids, glucides, anthocyanin glycosides, anthraquinone, alkaloids salts and Reducing sugars were absent in all the samples. However, saponin was present only in all aqueous extracts and methanolic extract of A. Adianthifolia root. Three phytochemical constituents quantified showed that Albizia adianthifolia stem bark has the highest phyto-steroid content (207.3±0.65mg equivalent/100g of dry extract) followed Gardenia ternifolia (126.4±0.45mg equivalent/100g of dry extract) and least in A. adianthifolia root (107.5±0.55mg equivalent/100g of dry extract). While the saponin content was highest in A. adianthifolia root (96±0.90mg equivalent/100g of dry extract) followed by Gardenia ternifolia root (61±0.66mg equivalent/100g of dry extract) and lowest in A. adianthifolia stem bark (25±0.25mg equivalent/100g of dry extract). Terpenoid content was relatively lower in all samples with A. adianthifolia stem bark (56±0.45mg equivalent/100g of dry extract); A. adianthifolia root (37±0.17mg equivalent/100g of dry extract) and G. ternifolia root (29±0.25mg equivalent/100g of dry extract). In conclusion, the plant samples contain varying phytochemical constituents and content which may be responsible for their antimycobacterial tuberculosis activity in the Albizia adianthifolia root, stem bark and Gardenia ternifolia root.