Authors: Ogbuagu A.S, Eric S.N, Obumselu F.O, Ogbuagu J.O
The physicochemical parameters of the oil as well as qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were carried out on n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Njangsa) using standard methods. The phyto-compounds were identified and their various concentrations were determined using Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) The physiochemical analysis carried out on the oil extract showed that the oil had an iodine value of 24.111g I2 /100g, peroxide value of 147mL eq / kg, saponification value of 322.58mg/KOH, thiobarbituric acid value of 1.4508mg/kg, density of 0.338g/ml and specific gravity of 0.9699. The results from the phytochemical analysis showed that the extract from all the solvents contained flavonoids (rutin, epicatechin, glycetin, kaempherol, and flavones, with epicatechin having the highest concentrations of 10.2546µg/g and 6.7597µg/g in n- hexane and aqueous extracts respectively), tannins (12.5370µg/g). Linamarin a cyanogenic glycoside was found in abundance in the aqueous extract at a concentration of 19.0462µg/g, alkaloids (quinine,7.8644µg/g, ephedrine 2.7672µg/g) occurred in ethyl acetate extract at appreciable quantity. Resin, cardiac glucoside, saponins, terpenoids and steroids were found in n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions in not very significant concentrations.
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