ABSTRACT

This study involved the isolation, purification and characterization 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/bOg alkaloid, 2.l4mg/lOOg flavonoid, 0.93 mg/lOOg tannins, 96.2mg/lOOg saponins, 17.8mg/lOOg phenol and 11.4mg carotenoid, irvivgia gabonensis had 49.6mg/i 00g alkaloid, 139.3mg/i 00g flavonoid, 51.0mg/lOOg tannin, 0.0ll2mg/100g saponin, 246 mg/100g phenol and 0.02mg/bOg carotenoid, afraamomum melegueta had 0.05mg/bOg alkaloid, 6.23mg/bOg flavonoid, 0.48 tannin, 1.35mg/bOg saponin, 0.09 phenol and carotenoid was not detected, cola parchycarpa had 356mg/lOOg alkaloid, 27.2mg/bOg flavonoid, 28.4mg/bog tainnin, 25.6mg/bOg saponin, 44.2mg/bOg phenol and 29.3mg/lOOg carotenoid. Although many of these constituents remain to be fully identified and characterised, broad classes include the poiy 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.