Tannin, oxalate, saponin, cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides contents of <i>cola ntida</i> and <i>cola acuminata</i>

Abstract

Two species of cola, Cola nitida and Cola acuminate, were investigated for their possible relative contents of the secondary plant products:- tannin, oxalate, saponin, cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides. The two cola species gave low levels of tannin and oxalate but very high levels of cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides as well as high levels of saponin. Tannin concentrations of 0.69 ± 0.01 and 0.71 ± 0.02mg/100g were obtained for C. nitida and C. acuminate respectively. C. nitida and C. acuminate also produced saponin levels of 10.49 ± 0.24 and 13.33 ± 0.16mg/100g respectively. The cyanogenic and cardiac glycoside contents were 60.00 ± 0.08 and 42.60 ± 0.09 mg/100g respectively for C. nitida and 80.10 ± 0.05 and 68.51 ± 0.08 mg/100g respectively for C. acuminate. The two cola species showed no significant (P<0.001) difference in their tannin and oxalate contents. However, their saponin, cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides levels differed significantly (P<0.001) with C. acuminate showing the higher levels.

Keywords: tannins, saponins, cyanogenic glycoside, cardiac glycoside, Cola nitida, Cola acuminate

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 11(4) 2005: 501-504