ABSTRACT
Plants are traditionally used all throughout the world to treat a wide range of illnesses, especially infectious diseases including diarrhea, fever, and colds. They are also used for dental hygiene and childbirth control. This is as a result of the presence of various secondary metabolites in them. In this study, the calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa were collected, dried and pulverized. Then, the powdered sample was extracted by cold maceration using methanol solvent and screened for the presence of phytochemicals. And was then subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) using varying solvent system from non - polar 100% hexane, Ethyl acetate : hexane, ethyl acetate and 100% methanol (polar). The 100% hexane extract was then selected and concentrated to afford light yellow oil. The yellow oil was then characterized by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC- MS) to separate the constituents of the oil. The result of the phytochemicals study showed the presence of Eight (8) out of ten (10) secondary metabolites that were investigated. These include glycosides, flavoinoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, eugenols and reducing sugar. However, the following metabolites such as steroids and phenolics were absent. The GC-MS study showed an abundance of useful constituents with pharmacological activities such as Hexadecanoic acid, 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid and Methyl stearate. These compounds have been seen to perform health remediating functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, and many more. The findings of this study prove that H. Sabdariffa calyxes is composed of useful bioactive substances. Therefore, the H. Sabdariffa calyxes has a huge potential in performing medicinal functions to humans, so it is advisable to either consume it or utilize it in the discovery of novel drugs with adequate toxicity studies.
