ABSTRACT

Vitex doniana is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases and infection such as wounds, burns, epilepsy, diarrhea and diabetes. These claims are yet to be fully documented through scientific evidence, hence the uncovering of the secondary metabolites present in the leaves, stem and root barks of V. doniana and assessment of their antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic potentials. Phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and proximate compositions were determined using standard methods. GC/MS technique was employed in the determination of the volatile constituents of the chloroform crude extracts of leaves, stem and root barks of V. doniana. The overall range of bioactive component range were for alkaloids (1.68-6.39%), flavonoid (2.18-5.02%), saponin (0.86-4.12%), tannin (0.58-2.50%) and phenol (0.293-2.20%). The plant vitamins content comprise ascorbic acid (0.011-0.021%), niacin (0.000128-0.000249%), riboflavin (0.000144-0.000260%), thiamin (0.000165-0.000497%) and β-caotenoid (0.0566-0.1227%). The plant parts are good sources of K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu, Se and Zn. V. doniana leaf crude extract showed a maximum of 0.041trypsin inhibitory unit (TIU), 25% inhibition against Gram-positive human pathogen, 50% inhibition with the Gram-negative microorganisms. The antidiabetic experiment with 25 albino rats showed no significant change in the induced diabetes after prolonged period treatment, though there was weight gain. By GC/MS analyses the compounds identified were thirteen from the leaves, nine from the stem bark and six from the root bark in the class of alkane hydrocarbon, tocopherols, alkaloids, ether, steroids, ester of unsaturated fatty acids and sulphur compounds all of which possess physiological uses, for example, [6] 11-[Cyclohexyl ethanamide] Olean 9/11, 13/14-diene, revealed in its fragmentation pattern the amide function responsible for activity. The identified compounds revealed bio-protective potentials of V .doniana . In conclusion the leaves, stem bark and root bark of V. doniana have potentials for pharmacological and physiological functions for good eye health maintenance, treatment of diabetes, fertility, postpartum bleeding, infection, anemia, and immunity owing to high value of ascorbic acid in synergy with α-tocopherol and selenium