PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

The study investigated the proximate composition, phytochemical constituents, mineral nutrient content, and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous leaf decoction of Mucuna pruriens, a plant of notable ethnomedicinal importance in Nigeria. Analyses were
conducted using standard procedures. Proximate evaluation revealed 7.17% ash, 18.43% carbohydrates, 9.67% crude fat, 18.52% crude fibre, 37.88% crude protein, and 8.33% moisture, confirming the leaf as a protein- and fibre-rich nutritional resource.
Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, eugenols, and reducing sugars, while saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides were not detected. Mineral analysis indicated appreciable levels of sodium (1343.67 mg/kg), potassium (1018 mg/kg), calcium (238.33 mg/kg), magnesium (377 mg/kg), copper (23.33 mg/kg), iron (336.67 mg/kg), zinc (29.67 mg/kg), manganese (106.67 mg/kg), and nickel (11.33 mg/kg). Antimicrobial assays demonstrated
concentration-dependent inhibition of Escherichia coli (15.0 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (14.1 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.0 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.0 mm) at 100 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 25 mg/mL for all isolates, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 25 mg/mL for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, but 75 mg/mL for E. coli. These findings validate the traditional medicinal use of M. pruriens leaves and demonstrate that decoction, a safe and culturally relevant extraction method, yields a nutritionally valuable, mineral-rich, and bactericidal extract with potential therapeutic applications

The present study investigated the phytochemical profile and analgesic potential of the ethanolic stem extract of Sida acuta, a plant traditionally used in folk medicine for pain relief.The primary objectives were to identify and characterize the major phytochemicals present in the extract, evaluate its analgesic activity using established in vivo models, and compareitsefficacytostandardanalgesics,aspirinandpentazocine.
Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenes, tannins, and alkaloids—bioactive constituents widely associated with therapeutic effects. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) confirmed the diversity of these metabolites across different solvent systems, with a chloroform– ethanol (9:1) mixture yielding the highest number of detectable compounds, emphasizing the role of solvent polarity in extraction efficiency. Analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate models, representing peripheral and central nociception, respectively. The extract showed a dose-dependent inhibition of abdominal constrictions, achieving 100%inhibitionat400mg/kg,comparableorsuperior to aspirin at 100 mg/Kg of mice. Similarly, in the hot plate model, the extract significantly increased reaction times to thermal stimuli, with effects at 400 mg/kg comparable to pentazocine at 0.1 mg/Kg of mice, a standard opioid analgesic. These findings suggest that the extract exerts dual analgesic effects, likely involving suppression ofprostaglandin synthesis peripherally andmodulation ofcentral nociceptive pathways possibly via opioid or serotonergic mechanisms. FTIR spectral analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups characteristic of phenolic compounds, including O–H (3418.74-3571.33 broad stretch), C–O (1045.39 short C-C), and C=C bonds (1644.67 sharp long C=C conjugation), supporting the identification of flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids. GC-MS analysis further identified key compounds with known analgesic or anti-inflammatory properties such as Eugenol (RT:10, P.A: 0.30), Phytol (RT: 42.07, P.A: 6.13), Squalene (RT: 44.86 P.A: 10.85), and various fatty acid esters,supportingtheobserved pharmacologicalactivity.
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Overall, the study highlights Sida acuta stem extract as a promising source of natural analgesics with both peripheral and central mechanisms of action, warranting further investigation and potential pharmaceutical application.