Abstract
The phytochemical and proximate constituents of leaves, stem and root of Boerhavia diffusa L. and B. erecta L. were examined in order to determine the biochemical compositions of the two species of Boerhavia. The significant difference was established at p<0.05. The greatest level of anthraquinone and hydrogen cyanide were found in the leaves of B. diffusa and there were no significant differences in the amounts found in the root. Leaves and stem of B. diffusa had the greater values of tannin, saponin, phenol and terpenoid in comparison to B. erecta, while higher concentrations of alkaloid were detected in the leaves and stem of B. erecta. Considerable great percentages of crude protein were present in the leaves of B. diffusa and B. erecta, being 16.41±0.04 and 15.89±0.03 respectively. The various parts of B. diffusa and B. erecta could be regarded as good sources of bioactive compounds for drug formulations.
Highlights
The genus Boerhavia L. is a member of Nyctaginaceae family
Tannin, saponin, steroid, phenol, anthraquinone, flavonoid, terpenoid and hydrogen cyanide were present in the leaves, stem and root of both B. diffusa and B. erecta (Table 1)
Flavonoids, quinines, terpenes, triterpenoids, polyphenols, and to a lesser extend sterols are the most common phytochemicals from extracts of West African plants, which were reported for antiplasmodial activities [24]
Summary
The genus Boerhavia L. is a member of Nyctaginaceae family It is a genus of about 40 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and is especially diverse in south-western North America [1]. They are annual or perennial diffuse herbs, flowers in capitula or lax cymes; fruits narrowly obovoid with 3-5 prominent ribs, smooth or minutely and densely glandular [2]. B. erecta has similar properties to B. diffusa, and can be distinguished by its ascending to erect habit, multi-branched inflorescence with pale pinkish-white flowers and obconical glabrous fruit [3, 4] The distinction between these two species is based on the morphology. Chinelo Anthonia Ezeabara and Ujunwa Collete Nwiyi: Investigation of Phytochemical and Proximate Components in Different Parts of Boerhavia diffusa L. and B. erecta L
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