Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae)

Main Article Content

Ekarika C. Johnson
Emmanuel I. Etim
Aniefiok S. Udobre
Thankgod I. Imeuka

Abstract

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) commonly known as Billy goat weed is widely distributed across Tropical Africa and all parts of Nigeria. The plant is well known in folkloric medicine for its anti-haemorrhagic and antimicrobial uses. This research was undertaken to identify the bioactive compounds present in the dried sample of the whole plant using simple chemical tests and to determine their concentrations using gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods. The results of preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, terpeniods, flavonoids, phenols, phlobatannins, and glycosides. The results of the quantitative analysis were as follows; (mg/100 g): alkaloids 38 ± 5.0 (7.6%), flavonoids 21± 3.9 (4.2%), saponins, 7 ± 3.0 (1.4%), terpenoids, 11±2.5 (2.2%), phenols, 0.073 ± 0.02 (0.146%), tannins 0.0225 ± 0.012 (0.0045%), riboflavin 0.014± .0090 (0.0027%), thiamine 0.007 ± 0.001 (0.00133%) and moisture content 177.0±4.77 (35.4%). The results of this research work indicated that Ageratum conyzoides is rich in these essential phytochemicals which may be responsible for its vast biological activities. These findings would also serve as a reference for the concentrations of these phytochemicals in the plant and are reported here for the first time.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Johnson, E. C. ., Etim, E. I. ., Udobre, A. S. ., & Imeuka, T. I. . (2020). Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Phytochemical Constituents of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae). Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science Research, 7(3), 54–58. Retrieved from http://mail.nijophasr.net/index.php/nijophasr/article/view/254
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Ekarika C. Johnson

Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo. Nigeria

Emmanuel I. Etim

Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo. Nigeria

Aniefiok S. Udobre

Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo. Nigeria

Thankgod I. Imeuka

Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo. Nigeria.

References

Adams, C. D. (1963). Compositae. In: Hutchinson J, Dalziel JM, Hepper F. N., eds. Flora of West Tropical Africa, Volume 2, Second edition. London, UK: Crown Agents

Ahluwalia, K. S. (1968); Medicinal plants of Kerala, Nagarjun 11(2): 363-369.

Awosike, F. (1991). Local medicinal plants and health of consumers. Clinical Pharmacology and Herbal Medicine. 9(4): 28-29

Banerjee, A. K., Banerjee, I. (1986). A Survey of Medicinal Plants in Shevaroy hills. J Econ Tax Bot. 6(8): 271-290.

BioNET-EAFRINET, (2016). Invasive plants key and fact sheets. http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/index.htm (accessed 29th Nov 2017)

Burkill, H. M. (1985). The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Royal Botanic Gardens, kew; 1(3): 184-187.

Cushnie, T. P., Cushnie, B., Lamb, A. J (2014). “Alkaloids: An overview of their antibacterial, antibiotic- enhancing and anti-virulence activities”. Int J. antimicrobial Agent. 44(5): 377-386.

Davis, P., H., and Heywood, V. H (1963). Principles of Angiosperm Taxonomy, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh; 22: 164-168.

Encyclopedia of Life (2016). Encyclopedia of Life. http://www.eol.org (accessed 29th Nov. 2017)

Githens T. S. (1948). Drug plants of Africa. Afr Handbooks; 8: 59.

GISD, (2016). Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ (accessed 29th Nov. 2017)

Harborne, Jeffrey B.; Baxter, Herbert; Moss, Gerard P (1999) eds. "General Introduct". Phytochemical dictionary a handbook of bioactive compounds from plants (2nd ed.). London: Taylor & Francis. p.vii.

Hostettmann K.and Marston A., (1995), Saponins, Cambridge University Presspp. 143-145.

Jain S, Pand Puri H. S. (1984). Ethnomedicinal plants of Jaunsar-Bawar hills, Utt ar Pradesh. Indian J. Ethnopharmacol; 12: 213-222.

Jimoh, F. O. and Oladji, A. T(2005). Preliminary studies on Pilostigma thonningii seed: proximate analysis, medicinal composition and phytochemical screening, African Journal of Biotechnology. 4(12): 1439-1442.

Kittakoop, P., Mahidol, C., Ruchirawat, S.(2014). “Alkaloids as important Scaffolds in therapeutic drugs for the treatments of cancer, tuberculosis and smoking cessation”. Cur Top Med Chem. 14(2): 239-252.

Kohli R. K, Batish D. R, Singh H. P, Dogra K. S., (2006). Status, invasiveness and environmental threats of three tropical American invasive weeds (Parthenium hysterophorus L., Ageratum conyzoides L., Lantana camara L.) in India. Biological Invasions,8(7):1501-1510.

Neogi,B.,Prasad,M.N.,Rao,R.R. (1989). Ethnobotany of some weeds of Khasi and Garo hills, Meghalaya, Northeastern India. Econ Bot ; 43: 471-479.

Okunade A., L., (1981). Ph.D Thesis, Nigeria: University of Ibadan. p. 84.

Okwu, D. E., (2005) Phytochemicals, Vitamins and Minerals contents of Two Nigerian Medicinal Plants, International Journal of Molecular Medicine and Advanced Sciences, 1(4): 375-381

Okwu, D. E. and Emenike, I. N (2006). Evaluation of the phytonutrients and vitamin contents of Citrus fruits. International J. of Molecular Med. and Advanced Science. 2(1): 1-6.

Okwu, D. E. and Omodamino, O. D. (2005). Effects of hexane extract and phytochemical content of Xylopia aethiopica and Ocimum gratissimum on uterus of guinea pig. Bio. Research. 3(4): 40-44.

Okwu, D. E., (2004). Phytochemicals and vitamin contents of indigenous species of South Eastern Nigeria, Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. 6: 30-37.

Oviedo Prieto R, Herrera Oliver P, Caluff MG, (2012). National list of invasive and potentially invasive plants in the Republic of Cuba - 2011. (Lista nacional de especies de plantas invasorasy potencialmente invasoras en la República de Cuba - 2011). Bissea: Boletín sobre Conservación de Plantas del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba, 6(Special Issue 1):22-96.

PIER, (2016). Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html. Accessed 29th Nov. 2017.

Qiu, S., Sun, H., Zhang, A. H., Xu, H. Y., Yan, G. L., Han, Y., Wang, X. J. (2014).“Natural alkaloids: basicaspects, biological roles, and future perspectives.” Chinese Journal of Natural Medicine. 12(6): 401-406.

Quijano, L., Calderson, J. S., Gomez, G. F., Rios, T. (1980). In-vitro cytotoxicity of ßavonoids against MK2 and C6 tumour cells. Phytochemistry; 21:29-65.

Quijano, L., Calderson, J. S., Gomez, G. F., SoriaI, E., Rios, T. (1980). Highly oxygenated ßavonoids from Ageratum conyzoides. Phytochemistry; 19:24-39.

Robbers, J. E, Speedie, M. K., Tyler, V. E. (1996). “Chapter 9: Alkaloids”. Pharmacognosy and Pharmaco biotechnology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. pp. 143-185.

Russo, P., Frustaci, A., Del Bufalo, A., Fini, M., Cesario, A (2013). “Multitarget drugs of plants origin acting on Alzheimer’s disease”. Curr Med Chem. 20(13): 1686-1693.

Scalbert, A., Manach, C., Morand, C., Rémésy, C. and Jiménez, L. (2005). Dietary polyphenols and the prevention of diseases. Critical Reviews on Food Science and Nutrition. 45(4): 287-306.

Sofowora, A. (1993). Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in West Africa. Spectrum books limited Ibadan, Nigeria: 35-44.

Sumner, J. (2000). The Natural History of Medicinal Plants. Timber Press: 16.

Suresh, B., Dhanasekaran, S, Kumar R.V., Balasubramanian, S. (1995). Ethnopharmacological studies on the medicinal plants of Nilgiris. Indian Drugs; 32: 340-352.

Tapsell, L. C., Hamphill, I., Cobiac, L. (2006 ) “Health benefits of herbs and spices”: The past, the present, the future. Med. J. Augt. 185(4): 14-24.

Trease, G. E. and Evans, W. C. (2009). Pharmacognosy. 11th edn. Brailliar Tiridel Can. Macmillian publishers: 148-194.

Tyler, V.E., Brady, L., R., and Roberts J., E., (1988). Pharmacology Lea and ferbiger, Philadelphia. 8(14): 85-90.

Upadhay OP, Kumar K, Tiwari RK. (1998). Ethnobotanical study of skin treatment uses of medicinal plants of Bihar. Pharmaceut Biol; 36: 167-72.