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Comparative chemical
composition of leaves of some antidiabetic medicinal plants:
Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina and
Gongronema latifolium
I. J. Atangwho*, P. E.
Ebong, E. U. Eyong, I. O. Williams, M. U. Eteng and G. E.
Egbung
Department
of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115,
Calabar, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
aijustyno@yahoo.com.
Accepted 12 February, 2009 |
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As part of
an investigation into the antidiabetic mechanism of some
indigenous medicinal plants, the proximate, vitamins and
mineral elements and phytochemical compositions of
Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina and
Gongronema latifolium were quantitatively determined
using standard methods and compared. Of the 3 plants G.
latifolium had highest (p<0.05) crude protein and fat
contents but lowest in fibre composition, whereas A.
indica with highest fibre content had lowest crude
protein composition. Fat and ash were lowest in V.
amygdalina. Also G. latifolium showed highest
composition (p<0.05) of vitamins A, E and niacin content
compared to A. indica and V. amygdalina. A. indica
and V. amygdalina have higher (p<0.05) vitamin C
and riboflavin composition. Flavonoids, saponins and
polyphenols were significantly predominant (p<0.05) in V.
amygdalina relative to A. indica and G.
latifolium, whereas alkaloids and HCN were highest
(p<0.05) in A. indica. However, G. latifolium
had the highest composition of tannins among the three
plants. There appear to be a complement of biochemicals in
the leaves of these plants which may account for reported
hypoglycemic and antihyyperglycemic action.
Key
words:
Medicinal plants, phytochemical composition, Azadirachta
indica, Vernonia amydalina, Gongronema
latifolium. |
