Analysis of proximate, micronutrients and determination of phytochemicals in selected medicinal plants in Mbita-Homabay County
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Date
2016-11
Authors
Oyugi, John Owuor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
About 80% of low income earners in developing countries rely on traditional medicine for their
primary health care, hence medicinal plants play an important role in the society. Lannea
schweinfurthii, Rhus natalensis and Euclea divinorum, has been extensively used in treating
severe headache, dermatological, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, abdominal pains, female
sterility among others in several parts of East Africa. In addition, many communities in Kenya
including Mbita - Homabay County residents rely on these plants for their medicinal values.
Many of the studies done on these plants have focused on isolation and characterization of
phytochemicals. However, there is limited information on proximate and micronutrients analysis
of these plants. Hence, this study focused on both qualitative and quantitative determination of
the phytochemicals, micronutrients and proximate constituents. The analyses were done using
conventional standard methods. The study revealed that the plants contained flavonoids, phenols,
alkaloids and saponins. Mean levels of flavonoids were found to be 19.80±0.20% in L.
schweinfurthii root barks and 9.46±0.12% in L. schweinfurthii leaves. Alkaloids were found to
be 7.66±0.24% in E. divinorum leaves and 1.40±0.00% in E. divinorum root barks, saponins
were found to be 47.60±0.05% in E. divinorum root barks and 7.65±0.05% in E. divinorum
leaves and phenols were 8.54±0.12% in R. natalensis leaves. Proximate analysis revealed varied
proportions of moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrates in all the
plants investigated. The highest % by mass were; moisture content 14.50±0.50% in L.
schweinfurthii root barks, crude protein 23.61±0.80% in R. natalensis leaves, crude fibre
1.80±0.20% in R. natalensis root barks, crude lipid 14.66±0.30% in R. natalensis leaves, ash
11.85±0.75% in E. divinorum root barks and carbohydrate 63.39±0.23% in E. divinorum. The
dried plant parts were used for the study. Micronutrients analysis revealed presence of Cu, Fe, Zn
and Mn which as 1.10±0.01 of R. natalensis leaves, 4.90±0.01 of L. schweinfurthii leaves,
4.50±0.01 of R. natalensis leaves and 2.30±0.01 of E. divinorum leaves in ppm respectively. Pb
was 3.10±0.02 in E. divinorum root barks and Cd was not detected. T-test and ANOVA were
used to analyze data. The findings provided evidence that crude aqueous and organic solvent
extracts of plants studied contain compounds therefore used as traditional medicines. The
findings suggested that the selected medicinal plants have a promising potential to cure ailments
and maintain a healthy life and should be investigated further to determine the components
responsible for activity.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Degree of Master of Science (Chemistry) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University. November, 2016