Characterisation, Phytochemical and Functional Groups Assay of Bombax brevicuspe Stem: A Tropical Timber

Abstract

The elucidation of Bombax brevicuspe wood was analysed for thermal and physico-chemical techniques. The results obtained were as follows: afterglow time 253.67 sec, flame duration 113.33 sec, flame propagation rate 20.3x10-2cm.s-1, ignition time 2.33 sec, thermal conductivity 51.34x102Umoh/cm, electrical conductivity 5.3x10-3Sm-1, ash content 3.4%, moisture content 29.97%, oven dry density 22.3x10-2g.cm-3, water imbibitions (at different time intervals: 30 mins 46.6%, 5hrs 87.6% and 24 hrs 148.9%), etc, These results showed it to be a good timber suitable for various construction purposes. The elemental analysis obtained through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) indicated the absence of Ca, as well as the presence of Na, K, Pb, Mg, Zn, As, Cu, Hg and Cd in their decreasing order of magnitude respectively as follows: 1.07%, 0.08%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.05%, 0,02%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.003%. Thin Layer Chromatographic (TLC) analysis gave Retardation factor (Rf) value of 0.62 in the chloroform-methanol extract. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of all the tested secondary metabolites except steroids which indicated its therapeutic ability. Their proportions are indicated thus; saponins (10.2%), tannins (920 Mg/100 g), flavonoids (8.0%), carbohydrates (1.62 Mg/g), proteins (1.55%), glycosides (356 Mg/100 g) and alkaloids (5.6%). The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Ultraviolet (UV) spectra suggested that the active compound might be 1,2,3-trisubstituted aromatic compound with C=O, O-H and C=N groups attached. The chemical components analysis showed the presence of cellulose 43%, hemicelluloses 20%, lignin 29% and other constituents in their right proportion. From the results, Bombax brevicuspe wood could be used for various construction purposes and it also poses some medicinal ability due to the presence of secondary metabolites.