Phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of the bark of Piptadeniastrum africanum Hook (Fabaceae)

Herein, the stem bark extract of Piptadeniastrum africanum Hook (F.) (used in folklore medicine for treating several illnesses), were screened for phytochemicals. The chemical screening revealed the presence of some phytochemicals - saponins, alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides and cardiac glycosides. Other phytochemicals - phenols and flavonoids - were absent in the bark extract. Proximate analysis on the bark extract also showed the presence of ash, fat, carbohydrate, moisture content and crude protein. The presence of these phytochemicals lends credence to the medicinal benefits it has been used for in the past years.