Abstract
Medicinal plants have a long history of use in most communities all over the world. Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide diversity of chemical compounds that uses to perform important biological functions. Many of Genus Crinum has been broadly used in traditional and ethno-medicines in the world wide. The aims of this study were to investigate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals constituents of the four species of the genus Crinum that exists in Ethiopia. All experiments were follow standard procedures. For the purpose of conducting phytochemical analyses on the four species each, three to six bulbs were collected from Field Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens and local fields. The bulb samples were cleaned, dried and crushed into powder. In this study the cold extraction methods were used the extraction solvents such as: n-hexane, ethanol, methanol and water. As a result of the phytochemical analyses, it revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phenols in Crinum abyssinicum and Crinum bambusetum species. Likewise, it confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins in Crinum macowanii. Moreover, it confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins Crinum ornatum. The chemical constituents revealed the presence of relatively high concentration of alkaloids (9.66%), saponins (19.72%), phenols (10.33%), and tannins (0.61%) in the bulbs of Crinum bambusetum. Similarly, the highest concentration of flavonoids (27.72%) was recorded from the bulbs of Crinum ornatum. As more phytochemicals constituents are being identified and tested, traditional uses of the Crinum are being verified. Accordingly, the evidence on the chemical constituents of the species explains the uses of the plants. Therefore, it is worthwhile to recommend the use of the phytochemical constituents of the species studied for Pharmaceutical use in the treatment of different diseases.
Highlights
Medicinal plants have a long history of use in most communities throughout the world
A healthy fresh bulb of Crinum species were collected from our institute medicinal plant field gene banks, botanical gardens and local fields that not from protected areas it gazer from highly disturbed grazing fields and no specific permission was required for collection
Qualitative phytochemical investigation results of crinum abyssinicum and crinum bambusetum revealed that, the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins was confirmed in all reagents with different solvent extracts except n-hexane, in the extract of crinum bambusetum the presence of steroid and glycosides detected by only one reagent
Summary
Medicinal plants have a long history of use in most communities throughout the world. Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years. Plants which have one or more of its organs containing substances that can be used for the healing purpose, are called medicinal plants [1]. Genus Crinum is one of the medicinal plants that belong to the family Amaryllidaceae, It comprises of an ‘eye-catching group’ of tropical and sub-tropical lilies distributed in almost every part of the world, mainly in Africa, Asia, Australia and America. Four species are found in Ethiopia: namely, Crinum abyssinicum, Crinum bambusetum, Crinum macowanii and Crinum ornatum [5]. Crinum abyssinicum and Crinum bambusetum are endemic species of Ethiopia [5]
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