Comparative studies of phytochemical constituents of leaf, bark and root of Moringa oleifera Lam

Abstract

Comparative analysis of phytochemical constituents of the leaf, bark and root of Moringa oleifera (drumstick) was carried out, Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of the phytochemical constituents were carried out using standard procedure. The results showed that aqueous extract of the plant parts tested positive for tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids except cardiac glycosides which were present only in the root. Significant differences (p≤0.05) in phytochemical constituents were observed between the plant parts and they were found to be significantly higher in the leaf compared to the other parts. Among the phytochemical constituents investigated, saponin was found to be highest with mean value of 20.81 ± 2.38 mg/100g, followed in decreasing order by flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols and tannins with respective mean values of 4.00 ± 0.75 mg/100g, 2.00 ± 0.60 mg/100g, 1.73 ± 0.60 mg/100g and 1.03 ± 0.14 mg/100g. The present study therefore conclusively points out that M. oleifera is a good source of various pharmacologically active substances most especially saponin and cardiac glycoside, in which the latter is a drug of choice for the treatment of congestive heart failure.