Abstract

Blighia sapida is a medicinal plant whose fruits and leaves possess therapeutic properties. This research is aimed at identifying the phytochemical constituents present in the leaves. The plant leaves were extracted with n- hexane and methanol. Phytochemical screening was carried out on both extracts while only the methanolic extract was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins and steroids in the n-hexane extract while tannins, steroids and flavonoids were present in the methanolic extract. Twenty one compounds were separated and identified using GC-MS. The predominant compounds were ethanol, 2-butoxy-(23.283%), n-hexadecanoic acid (12.214%) and phytol (9.803%). Some of the identified compounds possess biological properties. The presence of these compounds in the leaves of B. sapida confirms its ethnomedical uses.

Key words: Blighia sapida, medicinal, leaves, ethnobotanical, phytochemicals, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).