Evaluation of the Phytochemicals of the leaf of Bryophyllum pinnatum in Port Harcourt

This study was carried out to determine the qualitative phytochemical screening of Bryophylum pinnatum(BP) using aqueous leaf extract. Fresh leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum were collected from the Botanical garden of the University of Port-Harcourt and were identified and authenticated in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt. Phytochemical screening of the extracts was carried out at the Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port-Harcourt. The result of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of Saponins, Carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, triterpenoid, steroids and anthraquinone. Cardinolide and Cyanogenic glycosides were absent in the aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in the present study. When comparing the result of the present study and that of other studies carried out at different geographical locations, it was observed that, there were slight differences in the phytochemical Constituents that were present. This may be as a result of differences in the geographical location and physicochemical nature of the soil where the plants were collected from. Knowledge gained from this work will be useful to the anatomist and ethnomedicinal plant researchers.

Key Words: Bryophyllum pinnatum, Ethnomedicinal plant, Phytochemical screening