Screening, Quantification and Storage Studies with Selected Phytochemicals Constituents of <i>Piper guineense</i> Leaves

Abstract

In this work, the screening and quantification of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and cyanogenic glycosides constituents of raw Piper guineense leaves  were undertaken. Also post processing and storage studies with the alkaloids, saponins, tannins and cyanogenic glycosides constituents of the sun  dried and grated Piper guineense leaves were investigated. The Piper guineense leaves samples used in this study were obtained from some open  markets in Benin City, Edo State. Storage facilities used were the open laboratory wherein samples were kept separately in opened and closed  containers, as well as at water activities (aw) of 0.23, 0.52 and 0.97. All storages were carried out at ambient conditions and the storage duration was  two months. The presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and cyanogenic glycosides in the studied Piper guineense leaves were established by  the results of the qualitative tests. Findings showed that in the various solvents extracts used, variations occurred in the levels of the phytochemicals  examined. Results for the quantitative investigations carried out using raw Piper guineense leaves indicated that among the  phytochemicals examined, alkaloids occurred most with a concentration of 6.73±1.25mg/g. In a decreasing order, the sequence of occurrence of the  other phytochemicals examined is tannins (2.32±0.18mg/mg), saponins (1.24±0.51mg/g), and cyanogenic glycosides (0.20±0.05mg/g). Further  deducible from results was that processing and storage duration positively affected the values of the phytochemicals examined. The noted positive  effects were statistically significant (P<0.05) with respect to storage conditions. It is hoped that handlers and users of Piper guineense leaves would  find this work useful. Additionally, this work would be relevant to policy makers in the formulation of standard methods for the processing and  storage of Piper guineense leaves.