Tapera, MasimbaWanjau, RuthMachocho, Alex K.Dzomba, PamhidzaiMutsiba, Patience P.Kaseke, Sydney2020-11-232020-11-232020Tapera, M., Wanjau, R., Machocho, A. K., Dzomba, P., Mutsiba, P. P., & Kaseke, S. Phytochemical profile of Plecranthus esculentus NE Br obtained from Zimbabwe authenticates its medicinal uses.2278-5736https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jac/papers/vol13-issue9/Series-1/E1309013441.pdfhttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/20967A research article published in IOSR Journal of Applied ChemistryThe purpose of this study was to assess the ethnobotanical uses of Plecranthus esculentus N.E.Br in Makoni district, Zimbabwe as well as to evaluate the phytochemical profile of aqueous acetonic extract of the plant tubers using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform- Infrared (FTIR) analysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Face to face interviews were conducted among residents of Makoni district in order to gather information about the ethnobotanical uses of Plecranthus esculentus. The phytochemical profile of Plecranthus esculentus tubers was determined using UV-Visible spectrophotometry and FTIR analysis after solvent extraction using conventional phytochemical extraction protocols. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to confirm the presence of two selected phenolic compounds. Data from interviews showed that Plecranthus esculentus is widely used as food and folklore medicine in Makoni district, Zimbabwe. The UV-Visible and FTIR analysis of the tuber extract showed the presence of phytochemical compounds with organic chromophores including phenyl, organic hydroxyl, amines, carboxyl, carbonyl, acyl, alkyl and aromatic compounds. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence kaempferol and vanillic acid in the tuber extract. The study establishes the common ethnobotanical uses of Plecranthus esculentus and avails data on the phytochemical profile of Plecranthus esculentus tubers found in Zimbabwe. It also promotes the use, further study and conservation of the plant basing on its potential phyto-pharmaceutical importance.enEthnobotanyMedicinal plantsPlecranthus esculentusPhytochemicalsFolklore medicineArticle