EFFECT OF DRYING METHODS AND EXTRACTANTS ON SECONDARY METABOLITE COMPOSITIONS OF AZANZA GARCKEANA PULP AND SHAFT

Abstract

Azanza garckeana are used in Nigeria by herbal practitioners for the treatment of diseases. In the present study, effect of drying methods and extraction solvents on secondary metabolite compositions of Azanza garckeana pulp and shaft were evaluated. Results revealed that the shaft had higher moisture loss of 6.35% and 12.34 % while the pulp recorded the least moisture loss of 4.67 % and 7.46 % during air and sun-drying respectively. Methanol produced higher pulp extract yield than ethyl-acetate. Azanza garckeana pulp contains phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids and phlobatanins but absence of anthraquinone. Similarly, phlobatannins and anthrquinone were absent in the shaft. Tannins are the most abundant phytochemicals in both air dried (5.43±0.68 mg/100g) and sun dried (4.19±0.21 mg/100g) shaft followed by phenol (2.34±0.25 and 2.35±0.35mg/100g), flavonoids (2.04±0.21 and 2.78±0.54 mg/100g) while alkaloids (1.04±0.02 and 1.35±0.25 mg/100g) was the least. Methanol extract had higher amounts of phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids but lower tannin than ethylacetate extract. Drying significantly decreases the amounts of all these phytochemicals for both methanol and ethylacetate extracts. In conclusion the shaft and pulp of Azanza garckeana contains significant amounts of phytochemicals with medicinal reputation. However, the pulp contains higher amounts of these phytochemicals than the shaft. Also, sun drying significantly decreases the amounts of these phytochemicals.