Phytochemical Screening and Elemental Analysis of Detarium Microcapum Stem Bark

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that medicinal plants are source of diverse nutrient and non-nutrient molecules since thousands of centuries, scientific exeperiment have proven the use of plants for medicine and other purpose. The phytochemical constituent and elemental analysis of the aqueous extracts of Detarium microcapum stem bark were investigated through the use of cold extraction method for the preparation of extract, phytochemical screening described by Trease and Evans, finally spectrophotometer was used for the elemental analysis. Qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated that the aqueous extract of the stembark shows: Tannins carbohydrates, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins are all present. The elemental analysis of the extract of Detarium microcarpum analyzed were Iron, Sulphate, potassium silica (high), nitrite, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate ammonia nitrogen. This result indicate that Detarium microcapum can serve as an alternative medicine for the cure of some disease as claimed by the traditional medical practitioners and contains biocomponent whose antifungal and antibacterial activities against test organism can be exploited for pharmaceutical use.