ABSTRACT

This study involved the isolation, purification and characterisation of the phytochemicals from plukenetia conophora, irvingia gabonensis, aframomum melegueta, and cola parchycarpa, the determination of its medicinal importance. Further extractions were carried out using ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water. Analysis reveals the presence of bioactive compound from the photochemical screening. Subsequent quantification of these wild fruits reveals that alkaloid, saponins, tannins, phenol, flavonoid, and carotene are present. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of all selected phytochemicals in all the selected wild fruit except in aframomum melegueta where catotenoid was not detected. The phytochemical composition of the selected wild fruits, plukenetia conophora had 42.3mg/100g alkaloid, 2.14mg/100g flavonoid, 0.93 mg/100g tannins, 96.2mg/100g saponins, 17.8mg/100g phenol and 11.4mg carotenoid, irvivgia gabonensis had 49.6mg/100g alkaloid, 139.3mg/100g flavonoid, 51.0mg/100g tannin, 0.0112mg/100g saponin, 246 mg/100g phenol and 0.02mg/100g carotenoid, afraamomum melegueta had 0.05mg/100g alkaloid, 6.23mg/100g flavonoid, 0.48 tannin, 1.35mg/100g saponin, 0.09 phenol and carotenoid was not detected, cola parchycarpa had 356mg/100g alkaloid, 27.2mg/100g flavonoid, 28.4mg/100g tainnin, 25.6mg/100g saponin, 44.2mg/100g phenol and 29.3mg/100g carotenoid. Although many of these constituents remain to be fully identified and characterised, broad classes include the poly phenol, carotenoids, hydrolysable tannins, ligands, naphthoquinones, phenolic acids, phytosterols and tocopherols. These phytochemicals have been shown to possess a range of bioactivity, including antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and hypocholesterolaemic properties. Wild fruits are rich source of tocopherols and total phenols and contain a wild variety of flavonoid and proanthocyanids. In conclusion, all selected wild fruits are rich in alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, phenol, and carotenoid. This shows that the selected wild fruits are of health benefit. From the study it is revealed that increased consumption of any of the selected wild fruits like Irvingia gabonensis will help in less weight gain, Fight Erectile Dysfunction, Combat Diabetes and Lower Blood Pressure and if consumed can help to combat some health disorders.