Evaluation of the Phytochemical Constituents of Extracts of Kigelia africana Fruit and Sorghum bicolor, Stalk in Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

The use of herbal medicines and phytonutrients or nutraceuticals with numerous secondary metabolites continues to expand rapidly across the world, with many people now resorting to these products to treat various health challenges in different national healthcare settings. Therefore, the study is aimed at evaluating the phytochemical composition in the fruit extract of Kigelia africana and Sorghum bicolor stalks bought from the Mushin market in Lagos, Nigeria to ascertain its numerous pharmacological activities and identify the various chemical compounds responsible for these activities. Ethanol extracts of identified fresh fruits of K. africana  and S. bicolor stalks (L) were prepared for phytochemical screening using established methods for Alkaloids, Tannins, Phenols, Flavonoids, and Terpenoids testing as well as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis (GC-MS) for the analysis of the extracts. The chemical constituents present in both extracts were tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and saponins as well as alkaloids found only in K. africana. Also, the chromatogram of K. africana revealed the presence of forty-four (44) phytochemical constituents. At the same time, that of S. bicolor were twenty-nine (29) phytochemical constituents that could contribute to the medicinal quality of the plant with 9, 12-Octadeadienoic acid (Z, Z), and 13-Docosenoic acid, methyl ester, (Z) found as the major compounds respectively. The K africana and S. bicolor African indigenous plants in Lagos, Nigeria, possess different phytocomponents of scientific importance, biological action, and potential medicinal properties. There is a need for more standardization and purification of this herbal formulation for the treatment of diseases.