Preliminary Screening of Medicinal plants in Nigeria for Phytochemicals and Essential Oils Constituents

Abstract

Applications of plant extracts for medicinal purpose is based on its phytochemical and essential oil components. Therefore, this study was designed to screen some medicinal plants that are typical to Nigerian environment for their essential oil and phytochemicals constituents. The tests results indicated that methanolic extract of the stem bark/leaves of Bosweillia dalzielii, Ocimum americanus, Hyptis spicigera, Hyptis suaveolens, Eucalyptus cammaldulensis, vossia cuspidata, Lavandula officinalis, Cinnamondedrone cubenes, D. microcarpun, D. Mespilisformis, Isoberlinia doka, L. korstringi, and K. sengalensis contain basic metabolite and essential oils. The essential oil content deduced from steam distillation indicated significant concentrations in the studied plants.