Phytochemical screening and physical constant evaluation of Ficus Abutilifolia Miq. (Moraceae) leaves, stembarks and roots for quality control

Abstract

Ficus abutilifolia has been used to treat various ailments in Nigeria especially in the Northern and Southern parts, where the plant’s aqueous extracts has been use to treat typhoid fever, syphilis, and amoebic dysentery. Because of these uses, the plant’s parts had been adulterated for commercial purposes. The study was aimed at providing accurate parametric data for quality control of the products. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the parts showed that leaf contained saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and anthraquinones whereas alkaloids and anthraquinones were not noticed in stembarks ethanol extracts, flavonoids and tannins were the only phytochemicals present in the roots, as were confirmed using TLC plates and ultraviolent spectrometry apparatus. Percentage moisture content was 4.10±0.08 (leaf), 3.10±0.06 (stembarks) and 2.60±0.05 (root). Ash values were 12.47±0.20 (leaf), 6.22±0.14 (stem bark) and 3.04±0.09 (root). The acid insoluble ash value were 1.34±0.17 (leaf), 6.60±0.25 (stembarks) and 3.50±0.22 (root) whereas the water soluble ash value were 5.20±0.46 (leaf), 6.90±0.49 (stembarks) and 4.40±0.44 (root). Water extractive values were found to be greater than alcohol extractive values in the three parts; 6.32±0.50 (leaf), 1.70±0.06 (stembarks) and 0.50±0.12. The study showed that most of the data evaluated were in the acceptable range.