African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (11), pp. 1154-1160, 2 June 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative studies on Khaya. A. Juss (Meliaceae) in Nigeria

Jemilat A. Ibrahim¹*, Emmanuel A. Ayodele², Adeola I. Jegede¹ and

Yemisi F. Kunle¹

¹Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, NIPRD, Abuja. Nigeria.

²Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: sadiqoyene@yahoo.com.

Accepted 3 May, 2006

Comparative phytochemical, microscopical and chemomicroscopical studies were carried out on the genus Khaya with the aim of obtaining useful characters for the identification and delimitation of species boundaries. Tannins and saponins were present in all the species while phenols were detected in all except K. grandifoliola. Protein and anthraquinones were present in the bark of all the species. Carbohydrate is present in all the species except in the bark of K. ivoriensis. Flavonoids and phlobatannins were absent in all the taxa. Microscopical examination of the powdered bark revealed different types and shapes of lignified sclereids, abundant distribution of prismatic calcium oxalate crystals, druses, lignified cork-cells, fibres, medullary rays and parenchyma cells which may contain starch grains.

Key word: Khaya, microscopy, phytochemistry, taxonomy, chemomicroscopy.