ESTIMATION OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF ETHANOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT OF NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS (GIRISHI).

Newbouldia laevis plant belongs to the magnoliophyta phylum and the bignoniaceae family with a wide array of medicinal applications. Its bark is analgesic, stomachic. A decoction is used in the treatment of coughs, diarrhea and dysentery, whilst it is also given to children for epilepsy and convulsion. A decoction of the bark combined with chillies, is used in the treatment of chest pains. The bark is used to cure a range of skin conditions including septic wounds, abscesses and ulcers; and is also used to treat snake bites. This study is aimed at analyzing and identifying the concentrations of secondary metabolites present in Newbouldia laevis. The leaves of Newbouldia laevis were collected from plants growing in the University of Cross River State premises, Calabar Campus. The plant sample was identified by Mr. Alfred Odioko of Bioresource development and conservation program (BDCP) research centre Nsukka. Fresh leaves of Newbouldia laevis were air dried for 2-3 weeks and crushed into powdered form. About 2900g of the plant sample was extracted using 20L of 90% ethanol and shaken intermittently for about 72 hours. The solution was filtered and the filtrate concentrated (dried) invacuo at 600°C in a water bath. The extract was weighed and stored in a beaker measuring within the range of 150ml, labeled and covered with foil paper and preserved in the refrigerator at normal temperature of about 40°C for use in phytochemical study. The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated that saponins are highly present, terpenoids and flavonoids are moderately present while alkaloids, tannins, glycoside, phenols and steroids are slightly present. While the qualitative phytochemical analysis of Newbouldia laevis contains various secondary metabolites in the following concentrations: alkaloids (1.39#0.43 mg/g), flavonoids (3.03#0.14 mg/g), terpenoids (4.64#0.15 mg/g), saponins (18.26t0.11 mgg), tannins (0.68#0.05 mg/g), glycoside (0.74#0.04 mg/g), phenols (0.70+0.04 mg/g) and steroid (0.17t0.03 mg/g). Thus, the leave extracts of Newbouldia laevis could be used for medicinal purposes.