Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis of Active Constituents of Some Ethnomedicinal Plants in Ofutop Clan in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

Qualitative phytochemical analysis of ten plants of ethnomedicinal importance in Ofutop clan of Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the active constituents present in these medicinal plants. The plants studied were Cha-smantheradependensJustica carnea, Asystacia gangetic, Starchytarphetacayenensis Eremomastax polysperma, Senna alata, Costus afer, Vernonis amygdalina Lasienthera africana and Bryophyllum pinnatum. Ethanolic extracts of leaves of these different plant species were screened to ascertain the presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, phlobatannin, phenol, anthraquinon, terpeniod and steroid. The qualitative study indicated that alkaloid was present in all the plants while saponin was absent in Justica carnea and Asystacia gangetica but present in others. Also, tannin was absent in Asystaciagangetica, Costusafer, Senna alata and Vernonia amygdalina but was presence in others. The study showed that flavonoid was present in all the plant extracts while cardiac glycoside was absent in Justica, but present in others. Steroid was present in eight plants but absent in Abystacia and Vernonia. The extract also showed the presence of eight phytochemicals in Bryophyllum and the absence of phlobatannin and anthraquinon. The different phytochemicals in those plants are said to perform different biological and medicinal activities in humans, which when extracted in large quantity and commercially could be used to synthesize exotic bioactive drugs. It was therefore recommended that, further screening be done on quantitative analysis of the extract in order to give an insight to the pharmaceutical industries for the manufacturing of drugs for the cure and prevention of many diseases of human.