ABSTRACT
The analysis for the phytochemical analysis of Cassia alata leaf was carried out using standard analytical method. All the analyzed phytochemicals (Alkaloids, Saponins, Flavonoid, Cyanogenic glycosides and Tannins) were present in the plant sample. The result were as follows: Alkaloids 2.95±0.04, Saponin 0.73±0.03, Flavonoid 10.58±0.47, Cyanogenic glycoside 5.45±0.64 and tannin 4.91±0.12. Hence, this plant is recommended for therapeutical purposes.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTENTS PAGE
Title Page – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgements – – – – – – iv
Abstract – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – –
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION – – – – – 1
- Background of the Study
- Aim and Objectives
- Scope and Limitation
- Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
- Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â LITERATURE REVIEW
- Structure of Cassia alata leaf
- Botanical Classification
- Description of Cassia alata leaf
- Nutritive value of Cassia alata
- Chemical composition of chemical properties of Cassia alata leaves
- Uses of Cassia alata leaves
- Pharmacological
- Anti – inflammatory
- Anti – microbial
- Anti – obesity
- Hepatoprotective
- Cardiovascular effects
- Cytotoxity effect
- Anti – diabetic effects
- Phytochemicals
- Alkaloids
- Tannins
- Saponins
- Phenols
- Cyanogenic Glycosides
CHAPTER THREE
- MATERIALS AND METHOD
- Materials/Apparatus
- Reagents
- Collection of Samples
- Preparation of Samples
- Phytochemical Analysis
- Determination of Alkaloids
- Determination of Tannins
- Determination of Saponins
- Determination of Flavonoids
- Determination of Cyanogenic Glycosides
- Method
CHAPTER FOUR
- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
- Result
- Discussion
CHAPTER FIVE
- SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Summary and Conclusion
- Recommendations
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Medicinal plants have been the mainstay of traditional herbal medicine amongst rural dwellers worldwide since antiquity to date. The therapeutic use of plants certainly goes back to the Sumerian and the Akkadian civilizations in about the third millenium BC. Hippocrates (ca. 460–377 BC), one of the ancient authors who described medicinal natural products of plant and animal origins, listed approximately 400 different plant species for medicinal purposes. Natural products have been an integral part of the ancient traditional medicine systems, e.g. Chinese, Ayurvedic and Egyptian (Sarker & Nahar, 2007). Over the years they have assumed a very central stage in modern civilization as natural source of chemotherapy as well as amongst scientist in search for alternative sources of drugs. About 3.4 billion people in the developing world depend on plant-based traditional medicines. This represents about 88 per cent of the world’s inhabitants, who rely mainly on traditional medicine for their primary health care. According to the World Health Organization, a medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi synthesis. Such a plant will have its parts including leaves, roots, rhizomes, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, grains or seeds, employed in the control or treatment of a disease condition and therefore contains chemical components that are medically active. These non-nutrient plant chemical compounds or bioactive components are often referred to as phytochemicals (‘phyto-‘ from Greek – phyto meaning ‘plant’) or phytoconstituents and are responsible for protecting the plant against microbial infections or infestations by pests (Abo et al., 1991; Liu, 2004; Nweze et al., 2004; Doughari et al., 2009). The study of natural products on the other hand is called phytochemistry. Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterized from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources (Doughari and Obidah, 2008; Doughari et al., 2009).
