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European Journal of Applied Sciences 5 (1): 01-06, 2013
ISSN 2079-2077
© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ejas.2013.5.1.65127
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Eight Selected Medicinal Herbs Used for the
Treatment of Diabetes, Malaria and Pneumonia in Kisii Region, Southwest Kenya
1
Moses A.G. Maobe, 1Erastus Gatebe, 1Leonard Gitu and 2Henry Rotich
1
Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology,
P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya
2
Kenya Bureau of Standards, P.O Box 54974, Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract: Medicinal plants are an important source of phytochemicals that offer traditional medicinal treatment of various ailments. In Kisii region, southwest Kenya, amongst the indigenous herbs used as phytomedicines for the treatment of diabetes, malaria and pneumonia are Carissa spinarum, Urtica dioica, Warburgia ugandensis, Senna didymobotrya, Physalis Peruvian, Bidens pilosa, Leonotis nepetifolia and Toddalia asiatica. A study was carried out on these plants in the year 2011 to 2012. The objective was to test for the presence of phytochemical compounds in the eight selected traditional medicinal herbs. Leaf samples of the selected herbs growing in the ecological conditions of the Kisii region were collected, washed, air-dried and milled. The samples were extracted with one solvent namely water. The aqueous portion of the extract was used for phytochemical analysis to determine the presence of bioactive compounds. Results showed that saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids are present in all the eight herbs investigated. Herbs with cardiac glycoside in their leaves are Carissa spinarum, Senna didymobotrya, Physalis peruviana, Bidens pilosa and
Leonotis nepetifolia while those without are Urtica dioica, Warburgia ugandensis and Toddalia asiatica.
Plants with alkaloids are Warburgia ugandensis and Physalis peruviana. The anthraquinones are present in
Carissa spinarum and Bidens
ISSN 2079-2077
© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ejas.2013.5.1.65127
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Eight Selected Medicinal Herbs Used for the
Treatment of Diabetes, Malaria and Pneumonia in Kisii Region, Southwest Kenya
1
Moses A.G. Maobe, 1Erastus Gatebe, 1Leonard Gitu and 2Henry Rotich
1
Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology,
P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya
2
Kenya Bureau of Standards, P.O Box 54974, Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract: Medicinal plants are an important source of phytochemicals that offer traditional medicinal treatment of various ailments. In Kisii region, southwest Kenya, amongst the indigenous herbs used as phytomedicines for the treatment of diabetes, malaria and pneumonia are Carissa spinarum, Urtica dioica, Warburgia ugandensis, Senna didymobotrya, Physalis Peruvian, Bidens pilosa, Leonotis nepetifolia and Toddalia asiatica. A study was carried out on these plants in the year 2011 to 2012. The objective was to test for the presence of phytochemical compounds in the eight selected traditional medicinal herbs. Leaf samples of the selected herbs growing in the ecological conditions of the Kisii region were collected, washed, air-dried and milled. The samples were extracted with one solvent namely water. The aqueous portion of the extract was used for phytochemical analysis to determine the presence of bioactive compounds. Results showed that saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids are present in all the eight herbs investigated. Herbs with cardiac glycoside in their leaves are Carissa spinarum, Senna didymobotrya, Physalis peruviana, Bidens pilosa and
Leonotis nepetifolia while those without are Urtica dioica, Warburgia ugandensis and Toddalia asiatica.
Plants with alkaloids are Warburgia ugandensis and Physalis peruviana. The anthraquinones are present in
Carissa spinarum and Bidens
References: Calixto, B.J., 2000. Efficacy, safety, quality control, marketing and regulatory guidelines for herbal Anand, 2012. 12. Anpin Raja, R.D., J.W. Prakash and S. Jeeva, 2010. Sujana, 2011 19. Akindele, A.J. and O.O. Adeyemi, 2007. 21. Argal, A. and A.K. Pathak, 2006. CNS activity of Calotropis