Abstract
Phytochemical evaluation of leaves, stems and roots of Dracaena arborea (Link) and Dracaena mannii (Bak) present in southeastern Nigeria was carried out, to determine their taxonomical data with regards to their phytochemicals contents (flavonoid, saponin, tannin, cyanide, lectin, phytate and calcium oxalate) using standard methods. The results show varying quantities of the phytochemicals in the leaves, stems and roots of the two Dracaena species with some parts lacking some of the phytochemicals. The highest quantity of the phytochemicals was contained in the leaves of both species when compared to other parts respectively. The result also revealed no significant statistical difference in the phytochemistry of the two Dracaena species. The implication is that the two species are closely related and this justified their placement in the same genus Dracaena while the slight differences between them support their separation into different species. The result also indicated that the two species could be used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of diseases. In addition, these parts could be the possible sources of these phytochemicals. Key words: Dracaena arborea, Dracaena mannii, phytochemicals. 
Highlights
Dracaena consists of about 40 species (Waterhouse, 1987; Venter, 1996), and to Huxley (1992), it consists of 50 species. Sharma (1993) and Dutta (2003) described it as a genus of about 150 species
Alkaloid was lacking in the stem and root of D. mannii and in root of D. arborea while phytate was absent from the roots of both Dracaenas species
Lectin was absent from the leaves of D. arborea and from stem and root of D. mannii
Summary
Dracaena consists of about 40 species (Waterhouse, 1987; Venter, 1996), and to Huxley (1992), it consists of 50 species. Sharma (1993) and Dutta (2003) described it as a genus of about 150 species. Cronquist (1981) cited the following examples to indicate the use of chemistry in solving taxonomic problems: Caryophyllales produce betalain and not anthocynins; Polyoniales produce anthocynins and not betaains; Juglandales are aromatic plants while Fagales are non-aromatic; highly aromatic compounds are found in Lamiaceae; alkaloids are very common in Solanaceae; Sapindaceae have plenty of tannins. Determination of these differences and similarities with regards to phytochemistry of the two species based on the outcome of the study were the objectives of this research
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