Secondary Metabolites Investigation and TLC Analysis of Leaves, Stem Back and Root Extracts of Uvaria Chamae (UDAGU)

Secondary metabolites in a plant materials are known to be responsible for the physiological, pharmaceutical and medicinal activities of a plant. This study therefore aimed to screen for the secondary metabolites responsible for the traditional use of Uvaria chamae (Udagu) in Oghe traditional medicine. Three solvents of increasing polarity were successively used to exhaustibly extract the secondary metabolites present. Simple chemical tests were employed to screen for the secondary metabolites in the extracts. The result of the analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates in the leaves; saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates in the stem back and saponins, tannins, anthracenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates and protein in the root. The presence of anthracene only in the root may be working in synergy with other secondary metabolites and probably justifying the use of root in traditional medicine. Keywords: Secondary metabolites; Uvaria chamae; Successive extraction; thin layer chromatographic analysis; Leaves, Stem back and Root; anthracene. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-10-05 Publication date:May 31st 202