Phytochemical screening, pharmacognostic analysis and thin layer chromatographic studies of red water tree (Erythrophleum suaveolens Guill and Perr Brenan) stem bark

Objective: Phytochemical screening, pharmacognostic analysis and thin layer chromatography studies of Erythrophleum suaveolens stem bark was carried out to check for it secondary metabolite. Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on five different extracts. The extracts were successively extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate, absolute methanol, methanol successive, and freeze dried water extracts. While the pharmacognistic analysis was carried out to check for moisture content, water extractive value and alcoholic extractive value. Results: The hexane extracts showed the presence (+) of carbohydrates, flavonoid, sterol and alkaloids. The absolute methanol extracts indicated presence (+) of carbohydrates, terpenes, sterol and alkaloids. The ethyl acetate extract indicated presence (+) of saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, terpenes, sterols. The methanol successive extracts indicated the presences (+) of carbohydrates, terpenes, sterol, and alkaloids. The freeze dry water extracts indicated the presence (+) of saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, sterol. The pharmacognostic analysis indicated the moisture content of 3.3%, water extractive value of 40%, alcohol extractive value of 18.50%. Thin layer chromatography analysis of the successive extracts indicated five spots for hexane extracts, two spots for absolute methanol, one spot for ethyl acetate and two spots for methanol successive after spraying of iodine powder. Conclusions: From the outcome of the study, it can be concluded that the presence of the secondary metabolites observed, will contribute immensely toward drugs development.