Chemical and Medicinal Properties of Rauwolfia vomitoria (AFZEL) Harvested from the South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: This work was carried out to evaluate the chemical constituents of the leaf of Rauwolfia vomitoria and to determine the activities of the extract on some selected human pathogens Study Design: The study was designed to characterize the compounds in the extract and to determine their medicinal applications Place and Duration of Study: The work was done at the Department of Chemistry Federal University of Technology Owerri Methodology: Standard assay technique was used to evaluate the phytochemical content of the sample. GC-MS analysis was carried out on the chloroform extract of the sample. The anti microbial activities were determines using the well agar diffusion method Results: The analysis of the components of the leaf extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel revealed the presence of 34 compounds with their molecular masses  molecular weights and structures, all elucidated. The initial phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids 1.92%, saponins 1.12% , flavonoids 1.15% and cardiac glycosides, the extract showed marked inhibition of the growth of certain human pathogens with inhibition diameters recorded against Klebsiella pnuemonia, 22 mm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18 mm,Aspergillis niger 24 mm and Mucor specie 9 mm but was resistant to Streptococcus specie.The extract contain anti cancer,anti-tumuor antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ,cardioprotectives compounds which inludes phytol, Vitamin E, Campestrol, sistosterol, squalene, lupeol and vaccenic acid. Conclusion: Owing to the identified properties of the sample ,Rauwofia vomitoria leaf is excellent ingredient for the treatment of diaeases related to Klebsiella pnuemonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aspergillis niger and Mucor specie and also for the treatment cancer, tumuor, inflammation, arthritis,beingn prostate hyperplasia, fibromyalgia, allergies, coronary heart.