Phytochemical Screening, Spectrophotometric Determination of Total Carotenoids, Chlorophyll a and b Components of Crateva adansonii (Three-leaf Plant)

Aims: To screen Crateva adansonii phytochemically for phytosterol, phenol, proteins, amino acids, and to determine the pigment levels in Crateva adansonii using various types of solvents.

Study Design: This study was designed to determne the pigment levels in the extracts of different parts of Crateva adansonii in different solvents such as ethanol, water, methanol, diethylether and also determining phytochemical constituents in leaf, leaf stalk, stem and root.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Human Biochemistry (Postgraduate Research Unit), Faculty of Basic Medical Scences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus and Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, in January, 2014.

Methodology: Total carotenoids, chlorophyll a and b were determined spectrophotometrically using UV-VIS spectrophotometer (Model 752, China). Phytosterol was determined using Salkowski’s and Libman’s methods. Amino acids were determined using Ninhydrin methods. Results were analysed using IBM-SPSS statistical soft ware version 20, using anova

Results: Presence of amino acids were observed in leaf extract, leaf stalk, and root extracts, Amino acids were not detected in stem extract. For chlorophylls a and b pigments, methanol extract gave the highest amount of pigments significantly (P<0.05) among other extractors (acetone, ethanol and diethyl ether )

Conclusion: Aqueous stem extracts gave the highest absorption in total carotenoids while in chlorophyll a and b, diethyl ether extract of leaf gave the highest absorption. Spectrophotometric method may therefore be a suitable method that could be used in determining pigment levels in Crateva adansonii plant. The plant contains phytosterol, phenol and amino acids which are important pharmacological agents. The leaf and leaf stalk contained cupious amounts of carotenoids, chlorophyll a and b, all of which can take part in antioxidant protections and photosensitivity reactions with methanol being the best extractor.