Phytochemical, Metal Analysis, and in-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach and Thonn) Mȕll Arg (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Although plants are notable reservoirs of pharmacologically and toxicologically bioactive phytoconstituents of medicinal importance, they also contain certain concentrations of some heavy metals that are reportedly of great health concern worldwide necessitating their continuous evaluations. The study aimed to perform the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical investigation of the ethanol leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia Schumach and Thonn) Mȕll Arg (Euphorbiaceae) (A. cordifolia) vis-à-vis its heavy metals content and in-vitro antioxidant effects using standard procedures in attempts to establish the plant’s medicinal safety level. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, and carbohydrates of varying amounts and reference levels following thin-layer chromatography. Elemental analysis showed the presence of cobalt, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, sodium, calcium, and magnesium whose concentrations were all below the WHO/FAO recommended permissible limits except for cadmium and nickel, which was above their permissible limits even as the lead was below detectable level. The in-vitro antioxidant activities were concentration-dependent. The plant did not only contain many heavy metals below standard recommended permissible levels, it also demonstrated some antioxidant potentials to herald it relative safety. However, the presence of cadmium and nickel levels above the recommended permissible levels calls for its cautious usage while necessitating further investigations.