ABSTRACT

Herbal plants play a key role in the human health care system. Herbs are good sources of biologically active compounds known as phytochemicals. The present study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of the butanol fractions of Uraria picta using HPLC. Uraria picta (U. picta) leaves were collected from a private farm in Badagry, Lagos State, and were authenticated by a Botanist, at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin. The plant materials were cleaned, air-dried under shade at room temperature, and pulverized. A weighed portion of the pulverized leaf sample was dissolved in butanol and kept in a shaker at room temperature for 72hrs. After this, the filtrate was placed in a rotary evaporator to allow evaporation of the solvents and subsequently concentrated using a freeze-dryer. A portion of the concentrated extract was then subjected to phytochemical screening using HPLC. Results of qualitative phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, cardiac glycoside, phlobatannins, and coumarins. HPLC analysis of the butanol extract of U. picta revealed that the plant extract possesses numerous bioactive compounds. Naringenin, ammodendine, aphylldine, tannin, flavanone, catechin, and steroid are the most abundant of all present. These phytochemicals contribute to the antioxidant capacity of the plants in which they are found. They also possess antibacterial, anti-hyperglycaemic, antimalarial, anticancer, antitussive, hallucinogenic, antipyretic, antihypertensive, vasodilatory, and antiarrhythmic properties. Findings obtained from this study suggest that the butanol extract of U. picta possesses relevant therapeutic components that can be explored in the management of prevailing health challenges.