Comparative Analysis of Anthraquinones from Five Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the comparative analysis of anthraquinones from five selected medicinal plants both qualitatively and quantitatively. Anthraquinones present in the leaf extract was compared with that of the stem bark extract to show which has the highest anthraquinones. The result of the preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of all the plant parts reveals the presence of anthraquinones with the exception of A. senegalensis. Quantitative analysis of the extract divulged that the stem bark (g/100g) extract of Khaya senegalensis had the highest contents of anthraquinones (2.72 ± 0.02) when compared to the leaf extract. However, the leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (1.62 ± 0.02), Azadirachta indica (1.23 ± 0.06), Senna podocarpa (1.08 ± 0.02), and Annona senegalensis (1.05 ± 0.00) stem bark extract have high amount of anthraquinones present. The result showed that Annona senegalensis, Azadirachta indica, Khaya senegalensis, Senna podocarpa and Vernonia amygdalina contains anthraquinones a pharmaceutical ingredient and provides evidence for their use in traditional medicine.