Louis H.^{1, 2,}, Akakuru O.U.^{2, 3,}, Linus M.N.⁴, Innocent J.⁴, Amos P.I.⁴

The stem, roots and leaves of the plants Sclerocarya birrea and Steculia setigera collected from Kem and Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, were analyzed for the presence and amounts of different phytochemicals. The qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that alkaloid, tannin, phenol and flavonoids were present in the extracts of the stems, roots and leaves of both plants. Glycoside was only absent in the leaves of Sclerocarya birrea while saponin was absent in the root of Sclerocarya birrea and the leaves and stems of Steculia setigera. The comparative quantitative analysis carried out using UV-visible spectroscopy, showed that the plants are rich in phytochemicals and tannins, flavonoids and saponins (1.92¡À0.05, 50.33¡À0.03 and 2.77¡À0.010 mg/dl respectively) were found to be higher in Kem than those in Yola (1.73¡À0.09, 22.14¡À0.08, and 1.78¡À0.08 mg/dl respectively). Alkaloids, phenols and glycosides from Kem (3.47¡À0.01, 19.94¡À0.05, 0.54¡À0.03 mg/dl respectively) were lower compared to those from Yola (3.95¡À0.00, 22.19¡À0.06 and 0.85¡À0.06 mg/dl respectively). The phytochemical composition of the stem, roots and leaves of the plants indicate their medicinal properties.

phytochemical, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, Sclerocarya birrea, Steculia setigera