Phytochemical and antioxidant screening of Cassia alata, Ficus saussureana, Strophanthus hispidus, Momordica charantia and Moringa oleifera

The phytochemical screening of the plants extracts revealed some differences in the phytochemical constituents of the plants tested. All the plants except Strophanthus hispidus leaves extract tested positive for flavonoids. Only Cassia alata root extract, Ficus saussureana leaves extract and Moringa oleifera leaves extract tested positive for Phlobatonin. Saponin was found in all the plants extract in Moringa oleifera root and Strophanthus hisidus root extracts. It was found that terpenoids were present in all the plants extracts except Strophanthus hispidus (leaves and root) and Ficus saussureana root extracts. Tannins were present in all plants extracts except in Momordica charantia leaves and Moringa oleifera root extracts. Steroids were present in only Ficus saussreana (leaves and roots), Momordica charantia leaves and Moringa oleifera root extracts. Alkaloids were present in all the plants extracts, Anthraquinones were present in only Cassia alata (leaves and roots), Strophanthus hispidus (leaves and root) and Moringa oleifera root extracts. The results of the antioxidant property showed that all the plants extracts had an antioxidant activities against free radicals in the blood of the rats. Ficus saussureana leaves and Strophanthus hispidus leaves extracts had significant (P<0.05) higher level of catalase (6.47µmo1/mgprotein and 9.08µmol/mgprotein) respectively. This plants extracts have medicinal and health benefits.