Phytochemical Studies Of Three Piliostigma Species (Piliostigma Reticulatum(Dc)Hochst, Piliostigma Malabaricum(Roxb)Benth And Piliostigma Thonningii(Schumwh & Thonn.) Milne Redhead:- Maduerosi, Ihuoma P.

ABSTRACT

Plants contain diverse group of phytochemicals such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, . phenols and glycosides that possess enormous antimicrobial potential against bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. In this research work, three species of Piliostigma were used namely Piliostigma thonningii, Piliostigma malabaricum and Piliostigma reticulatum for quantitative and qualitative analysis of the bioactive compounds. Qualitatively, the phytochemical studies of the leaves and barks were investigated to ascertain their phytochemical composition. The result obtained shows the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and alkaloids having a positive result while saponins, terpenoids and steroids were absent in the three species. Phobatannins and carotenoids were only present in the bark and were absent in the leaves of the three Piliostigma species. Quantitatively, the percentage phytochemical composition ofthe three species were also obtained showing that cyanide had the highest content in the leaves of the three Piliostigma species {Piliostigma malabaricum, 14.86±0.01, Piliostigma thonningii, 12.92±0.03 and Piliostigma reticulatum, 14.02±0.02) while in the bark, the highest content were seen in alkaloid (Piliostigma malabaricum 38.62±0.03, Piliostigma thonningii 38.51±0.01 and Piliostigma reticulatum 36.82±0.03). Statistical analysis which was conducted using the three Piliostigma species showed that there • were significant difference (p<0.05) between the quantities ofthe phytochemicals found in the leaves and barks. The present findings on the phytochemical content in this Piliostigma species have not only revealed the medicinal potential of these plant as employed by indigenous of the South-East people but also the attempt to phytochemically characterize these species in the systematics of the plant. Thus, this confirms the basis of traditional use of Piliostigma species as a potential source of useful drugs.