Preliminary phytochemical screening of different solvent extracts of stem bark and roots of Dennetia tripetala G. Baker.

Dennetia tripetala (pepper fruit) is a well known Nigerian spicy, medicinal plant valued especially for its peppery fruit. Qualitative phytochemical screening of D. tripetala stem bark and roots was studied. Five solvents viz; water, 70% ethanol, acetone, methanol and hexane were used to obtain extracts from powdered plant parts. The extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using standard procedures. Results show that nine of thirteen phytochemicals screened for were present. They are; alkaloid, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrate, flavonoids, phenols, saponins. However, flavonoids and saponins were found absent in root extracts. The results also shows that sterols and terpenoids were more readily extracted by hexane but absent in water. The diversity of phytochemicals found present suggests that D. tripetala stem bark and roots could serve as a source of useful drugs.

Author(s): Solomon Charles Ugochukwu, Arukwe Uche and Onuoha Ifeanyi

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