ABSTRACT
Hunteria umbellata is a common and widely used medicinal plant, which is found in the western coast of Africa including Nigeria. It is rich in various secondary compounds like phenols, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins. The health benefits of H. umbellata are mainly attributed to the presence of these phytochemicals. It has been revealed that H. umbellata possesses multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic activities, as well as nutritional values. In this study, the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition of H. umbellata were determined, in which qualitative assessment of the phytochemical revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and terpenoids. However, glycoside and steroids were found to be absent. The quantitative determination of Total Tannins, Flavonoids, and Phenols were found to be 1.151 ± 0.34 (mg/g tannic equiv.), 0.336 ± 0.016 (mg/g rutin equiv.) and 110.95 ± 3.86 (mg/g gallic acid equiv.) respectively, showing the value of these selected phytochemical in the extract. Therefore, the presence of these compounds in H. umbellata support its ethopharmacological claims and as to why it is extensively used in herbal practice and treatment or management of wide range of diseases and infection.
