ABSTRACT
Detarium microcarpum (DM), commonly known as the African locust bean, is a tree species native to West Africa with profound cultural, economic, and medicinal importance. This study presents a meticulous qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the dichloromethane (DCM) and Hydromethanol (HM) fractions obtained from DM stem bark. The process involved systematic sample collection from a farmland in Western Nigeria, followed by identification at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology. The stem bark was meticulously cleaned, dried, and subjected to extraction with absolute methanol for 72 hours. The resulting extract was fractionated using dichloromethane, employing a stepwise method based on solvent polarity. Phytochemical screening of the DCM and HE fractions revealed a diverse array of bioactive compounds, prominently including tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, and glycosides. Of significant note in the DCM and HE fractions were the high concentrations of phenols (12.33 ± 0.44 mg GAE/g extract and 6.09 ± 0.35 mg GAE/g extract respectively), tannins (49.33 ± 5.10 mg TAE/g extract and 63.48 ± 3.45 mg TAE/g extract respectively), and flavonoids (2.21 ± 0.21 mg QE/g extract and 1.40 ± 0.05 mg QE/g extract) detected in the DCM fraction. These findings underscore the rich phytochemical profile of DM stem bark extract, suggesting its potential therapeutic efficacy. Tannins, terpenoids, and flavonoids are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which align with DM's traditional medicinal uses. The absence of saponins in only the DCM fraction highlights the specificity of DM's phytochemical composition. Furthermore, the observed concentrations of phenols, tannins, and flavonoids indicate significant bioactivity, holding promise for combating oxidative stress-related diseases. This lays a robust foundation for further exploration of DM stem bark extract in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, emphasizing its potential as a natural source of healthpromoting compounds.
