IRJCCS

International Research Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Sciences

Vol. 5(1), pp. 082-085, January, 2018. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Research Article

Phytochemical Screening, Proximate and Elemental

Analyses of Senna siamea (Lam.) leaves from Kashere
metropolis of Gombe State, Nigeria.
*Kendeson A. Christiana1, Abdulkadir A. Gidado2, Danja Abdu Bertha3, Abdu Zakari4, Alfazazi
Amina5
1,2,3,4,5
Department of Chemical Sciences, P.M.B 0182, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria.

Senna siamea has been used by various ethnicities in Nigeria for the treatment of various ailments
including syphilis, herpes, swine fever, typhoid fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, menstrual pain,
among others. In this study, the leaves of Senna siamea were collected and made to undergo
proximate, phytochemical and elemental analyses. Result for the proximate analysis revealed 7.43
% moisture content, 20.62 % ash content, 3.00 % lipid content, 21.88 % protein content, 13.00 %
crude fibre content and 34.07 % carbohydrate content. Phytochemical screening results indicated
high presence of terpenoids, tannins and volatile oils; moderate presence of alkaloids and cardiac
glycosides; low presence of saponins, steroids, flavonoids and general glycosides. Quantitative
elemental analysis revealed the presence of iron, magnesium and calcium in appreciable amounts
of 11.03 %, 10.83 % and 3.08 % respectively. The secondary metabolites contained in S. siamea
leaves are hugely responsible for its use in the afore-mentioned treatments and the appreciable
amounts of vital minerals suggest they could be processed and inculcated in animal feeds.

Keywords: Elemental, Senna siamea, Phytochemical, Proximate, Kashere, Gombe.

INTRODUCTION

Medicine in several developing countries using local
traditions and beliefs is still the mainstay of healthcare. As
a basis for the maintenance of good health, most
developing countries use traditional medicine and
medicinal plantscontaining natural products with medicinal
properties. Medicinal plants, since time immemorial, have
been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine
(Hoareau et al., 1999).
Plants have in their arsenal an amazing array of thousands
of chemicals noxious or toxic to bacteria, fungi, insects,
herbivores, and even humans. Fortunately, this chemical
diversity also includes many compounds that are
beneficial to humans: vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants,
anticarcinogens, and many other compounds with
medicinal value. Most plant species in the world are not
edible due largely to the toxins they produce which evolve
from the development of a defense mechanism generated
by these plants to fight off predator (Kendeson et al.,
2016).
Phytochemical Screening, Proximate and Elemental Analyses of Senna siamea (Lam.) leaves from Kashere metropolis of Gombe State, Nigeria.
Medicinal plants have some natural products which
perform definite physiological action on human body, and
these bioactive substances with curative properties are
secondary metabolites which include alkaloids,
carbohydrates, terpenoids, flavonoids, resins, tannin,
saponins, essential oils, glycosides, phenols and steroids
(Abdu et al., 2015).
Traditional systems of medicine continue to be widely
practiced for several reasons - population rise, inadequate
supply of drugs, prohibitive cost of treatments, side effects
of several allopathic drugs and development of resistance
to currently used drugs for infectious diseases have led to
increased emphasis on the use of plant materials as a
source of medicines for a wide variety of human ailments.
*Corresponding author: Kendeson A. Christiana,
Department of Chemical Sciences, P.M.B 0182, Federal
University Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria.
E-mail: kendesonac@yahoo.com Tel: +2348065687565
Kendeson et al. 083

Plants, especially used in traditional systems of medicine
can provide biologically active molecules and lead
structures for the development of modified derivatives with
enhanced activity and /or reduced toxicity such as
vinblastine, vincristine, taxol, morphine, codeine, aspirin,
atropine, artemesinin and ephedrine among others (Joy et
al., 2001).
treatment of fever, skin disease, constipation, diabetes,
hypertension, and insomnia (Kinhorn and Balquadrin,
1992). Various extracts of leaves, stem bark, and flowers
of S.siamea were screened for its anti-malarial activity.
Most of the activities described were determined in vitro on
Plasmodium falciparum strains (Jun et al., 2012 and
Hussian, 1991).

The leaves of S.siamea are extensively known for their

anti-gonorrhoeal and purgative properties as well as a MATERIALS AND METHODS
guinea worm and sore-healing remedy among the Igbos in
Sample collection and preparation
Nigeria. The fresh leaves concoction is used for curing
syphilis, herpes and swine fever and for repelling or killing S. siamea leaves were collected within Kashere metropolis
insects such as termites, bed bugs and mosquitoes as from the available S. siamea trees. The leaves were
reported by Jimoh et al., (2013). A traditional claim has identified at the Department of Biological Sciences,
cited that S. siamea is used for the treatment of typhoid Faculty of Science, Federal University Kashere. They were
fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, and is washed, air-dried and stored away for the various
also used to reduce sugar level in the blood (Jimoh et al., analyses.
2013).
Extraction
S. siamea is an Arabian name and the herb was first
brought into use by the Arabian physicians - Serapion and The sample was extracted using cold extraction, in an
Mesue in the year 1809, it is also known as Cassia siamea aspirator bottle with 2.5 liters of distilled water for 48 hours
Lam, cassod tree and Cassia tree; an Angiosperm after which it was filtered and concentrated using rotary
belonging to the family Fabaceae (Bukar et al., 2009). evaporator at a 100oC to yield a dark greenish gum. This
was then used for phytochemical screening following
S. siamea is used ethno-medicinally especially when standard procedure as described by Sofowora (1993),
decocted, as anti-malaria, laxative, blood cleaning agent, Trease and Evans (2002).
cure for digestive system and genitourinary disorders,
herpes and rhinitis (Bukar et al., 2009). The leaves of S. Elemental and Proximate Analyses
siamea are extensively known for their anti-gonorrhoeal
and purgative properties as well as a remedy against Determination of elemental proximate compositions of S.
guinea worm and sore-healing among the Igbos in Nigeria. siamea leaves were done using the methods described by
The fresh leaves concoction is used for curing syphilis, AOAC (1990) and James (1995).
herpes and swine fever and for repelling or killing insects
such as termites, bed bugs and mosquitoes as reported by
Jimoh et al., (2013). A traditional claim has cited that S. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
siamea is used for the treatment of typhoid fever, jaundice,
abdominal pain, menstrual pain, and is also used to reduce Table 1: Result showing the Phytochemical screening of
sugar level in the blood (Jimoh et al., 2013). S. siamea leaves
Phytochemical Constituent Observation
The leaves of S. siamea were reported to contain Alkaloids (Dragendoff’s) ++
anthraquinones, both aglycones and glycosides (Aurapa Saponins +
and Wandee, 2009). Anthraquinones found in the leaves Tannins +++
of S. siamea are rhein, cassiamin, physcion, chrysophanic Steroids +
acid, and sennosides (Gritsanapan, 1983 and Nualkaew, Anthraquinones -
1999). Saponin, alkaloids and phylobatannins are the Phylobatannins -
major phytochemical identified in S. siamea leave extract Flavonoids +
(Smith, 2009). These phytochemical exhibit diverse Terpenoids +++
pharmacological and biochemical actions when ingested Volatile Oils +++
by animals (Amadi et al., 2006). Cardiac glycosides ++
Glycosides (general) +
S. siamea is effective in managing constipation, in Resins -
association with a number of causes including surgery,
childbirth and the use of narcotic pain relievers (Hill, 1992). Key: +++ Present in high amount
It is used locally as anti-malaria drugs, especially when it ++ Present in Moderate amount
is used in form of decoction (the leaves, bark) (Lose et al., + Present
2000). In traditional medicine, the fruit is used for the - Absent
Phytochemical Screening, Proximate and Elemental Analyses of Senna siamea (Lam.) leaves from Kashere metropolis of Gombe State, Nigeria.

The results showed that the leaves of S. siamea contain
the following metabolites: alkaloids, saponins, tannins,
steroids, terpenoid, flavonoids, volatile oils, glycosides,
which are the basis of therapeutic potentials of medicinal
plants. Anthraquinones and Phylobatannins were not
detected which negates the findings of Gritsanapan (1983)
and Nualkaew (1999). This probably could be the result of
geographical and climatic differences between regions
where both plant samples grow. The presence of tannins
as reported by Maynard (1997) is responsible for lowering
available protein by competition and can therefore elicit
protein deficiency syndrome, “Kwashiokor”. It is believed
that the role of saponin in plant is to protect against attack
by potential pathogens (Sparg et al., 2004). Flavonoids
elicit a wide range of therapeutic activities as
antihypertensive, anti-rheumatism as well as antimicrobial
as identified with flavonoids of Cassia siamea (Veerachari
and Bopaiah, 2011). Essiett et al., (2010) reported that
many plant containing flavonoids are diuretic and
antioxidants, the leaves and stems of this plant can be
equally applied in each case. Cardiac glycosides were
detected in this extract and this compound has been useful
in the treatment of asthma (Trease and Evans, 2002).
Table 2: Proximate chemical composition of S. siamea
leaves
Chemical composition Percentage (%)
Moisture Content 7.43
Ash Content 20.62
Crude Lipids 3.00
Crude Protein 21.88
Crude Fibre 13.00
Carbohydrate 34.07
Proximate analysis of a food is the nutritional composition
of that food. It is the estimate of the nutritive value of
human food in its chemical form. The proximate analysis
result shown in Table 2 above, revealed that S. siamea
contains essential nutrients, energy sources for good
human and animal health because of the high percentage
of protein, carbohydrate and fibre contents. The moisture
content was not high, indicating less chances of microbial
degradation of the drug during storage because excess
moisture can result in the breakdown of important
constituents by enzymatic activity and as a result may
encourage the growth of yeast and fungi during storage.
Table 3: Result for Elemental Analysis of S. siamea leaves
Elements Determined Concentration (%)
Ca 3.08
Fe 11.03
Pb 0.38
Cd 0.07
Mg 10.83
Phytochemical Screening, Proximate and Elemental Analyses of Senna siamea (Lam.) leaves from Kashere metropolis of Gombe State, Nigeria.
Int. Res. J. Chem. Chem. Sci. 084
Some minerals are essential, required for normal
metabolism of organisms and various physiological
processes such as calcium, while others are non-essential
and play no significant biological roles. These mineral
values are useful for body functions which could be why it
is used in medicinal application (Kendeson et al., 2016).
The mineral profile (Table 3) showed the presence of Fe
and Mg, followed by Ca. However, the presence of Pb and
Cd in the leaves could be due to the toxicity of the
environment and hence detrimental to health as the action
level for Pb and Cd as recommended by WHO has been
exceeded (Abdulkadir et al., 2017).
CONCLUSION
S. Siamea leaves from Kashere metropolis were subjected
to proximate, phytochemical and elemental analysis.
Results obtained revealed 7.43 % moisture content, 20.62
% ash content, 3.00 % lipid content, 21.88 % protein
content, 13.00 % crude fibre content and 34.07 %
carbohydrate content. Phytochemical screening results
indicated high presence of terpenoids, tannins and volatile
oils; moderate presence of alkaloids and cardiac
glycosides; low presence saponins, steroids, flavonoids
and general glycosides. Quantitative elemental analysis
revealed the presence of iron, magnesium and calcium in
appreciable amounts of 11.03 %, 10.83 % and 3.08 %
respectively. S. siamea leaves is known traditionally to
cure malaria and typhoid fever within Kashere metropolis;
hence the study was to justify part of the claim by
traditional healers (herbalists).
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Accepted 9 January 2018
Citation: Kendeson AC, Abdulkadir AG, Danja AB, Abdu
Z, Alfazazi A (2018). Phytochemical Screening, Proximate
and Elemental Analyses of Senna siamea (Lam.) leaves
from Kashere metropolis of Gombe State, Nigeria.
International Research Journal of Chemistry and Chemical
Sciences, 5(1): 082-085.
Copyright: © 2018 Kendeson et al. This is an open-
access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.