QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF HIBISCUS LEAVES

This study investigates the quantitative and qualitative analysis of phytochemical constituents of Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis leaves, with the aim of assessing their potential medicinal and nutritional value. Fresh leaves were collected from a garden at Abakpa Nike Enugu. Then the leaves were air-dried under room temperature for 14 days, then size reduced to powdery form (through mechanical grinding), then extracted using ethanol (solvent Extraction) following standard procedures. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of key primary metabolites such as carbohydrates and amino acids, while reducing sugars, proteins, and oils were absent. Among secondary metabolites, flavonoids and glycosides were strongly present, with moderate levels of resins, whereas saponins, tannins, alkaloids, phenols, and terpenoids were not detected. Quantitative analysis indicated high flavonoid content, with the maximum recorded at 4787.67% w/w at 2000 µg/mL concentration. Glycoside content was measured at 0.9726 mg/mL using a colorimetric method. These findings suggest that Hibiscus leaves are a rich source of bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids and glycosides, which contribute to their antioxidant and therapeutic properties. The results support the potential use of Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis leaves in the development of herbal formulations, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.