PHYTOCHEMICALS CONTENTS, ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS AND BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF Rauvolfia serpentina LEAVE (EWE OWURO)

Abstract

Traditionally, Rauvolfia serpentina leaves have been used as a febrifuge and as an antidote against the bites of poisonous snake and insect stings. It is also used to treat dysentery, painful infections of the intestinal canal, uterine contraction and to promote expulsion of fetus.The R. Serpentina leaves were subjected to phytochemical screening using standard methods, elemental analysis was conducted using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry)and GC-MS was used for the qualitative and quantitative detection of the bioactive compounds. The results showed that flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycoside, legal test, alkaline and reducing sugar were present while steroids and phenols were absent. AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) analysis in mg/kg showed the presence of calcium (32.00mg/kg), iron (184.75mg/kg),magnesium (101.24 mg/kg) and zinc (538.22mg/kg) respectively.The GC-MS result revealed about 128 compounds of pharmacological importance of which notably 23 of these compounds show a concentration of 0.5% peak areas (5000 ppm) and above. The different bioactive phytochemicals identified in this hexanoic extract of Rauvolfia serpentina include Steroids, terpene and terpenoid, hydrocarbons, fatty acids and Vitamin E.