ABSTRACT

The plant Stachytarpheta angustifolia is a medicinal plant which comes from the genus Stachytarpheta of the family Verbenaceae. This study is aimed at isolating the plant extract, characterizing it and determining the phytochemical and analgesic properties of the plant. Extraction was done using chloroform and column chromatography was used for the elution of the crude extract using silica gel as the stationary phase. Solvents used as the mobile phase were petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. These solvents had differing polarity; from non-polar to polar. A total of 26 fractions were collected after elution. Purity of the fractions were monitored using thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel coated plates. Solvents used were petroleum ether, choroform and methanol. Quantitative and qualitative screening test were both carried out on the crude extract to determine the phytochemical properties of the plant. Analgesic analysis was carried out using acetic-acid writhing reflex method. After TLC, fraction 26 yeilded a single spot with the solvents, petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol in the ration 1:3:6 (R_f =0.55). The structure was elucidated using FTIR, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, DEPT-135 and C-H COSY and the structure had a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₈O₃. The compound was characterized as a triterpenoid. Phytochemical screening using the standard qualitative techniques revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids and terpenoids. The result showed very strong presence of Alkaloids, Flavonoids and terpenoids. The crude extract also showed good analgesic property. As a follow-up on the study, it is anticipated that the compound can further be explored to reveal its potential applications.