Phytochemical screening of extracts cotton plants (Gossypium Barbadense), pumpkin plants (Cucurbita Pepo) and valavet bean (Mucuna Pruriens) in Fufore Local government of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Alkaloids, saponins, anthraquinones, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids and flavonoids distribution in ten medicinal plants belonging to different families were assessed and compared. The medicinal plants investigated were cotton (Gossypium hursitum), Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) and velvet bean (Mucuna prupriens). The results of the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of major classes of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids and anthraquinones in ethanolic and aqueous extract. The results of cotton (Gossypium hursitum) leaves and roots in ethanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, and anthraquinones. Terpenoids were absent in the leaves of cotton (Gossypium hursitum), meanwhile Glycosides were absent the roots of cotton (Gossypium hursitum) in ethanolic extracts. The result of aqueous extracts of cotton (Gossypium hursitum) leaves and roots showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids and anthraquinones. While the roots revealed the absence of protein and terpenoids. Similarly, the Phytochemical screening result of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) leaves and roots of ethanolic and aqueous extracts revealed the presence of some bioactive components in the extracts such as alkaloids, tannins, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins and anthraquinones. Whereas saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids were absent in the ethanolic extracts of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) leaves. And also, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids were absent in the roots of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin). While the aqueous extract of the leaves revealed all the phytochemical being carried out except saponins, flavonoids and Terpenoids are absent. Also, the aqueous extracts of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) roots revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites as shown in table IV such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids and anthraquinones. Saponins and glycosides were absent. The results of the velvet bean (Mucuna prupriens) leaves and roots of ethanolic extract showed that alkaloids, saponins, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids and anthraquinones were present both in leaves and roots with tannins present only in the roots. However, flavonoids, glycosides, were absent in both leaves and roots of velvet bean (Mucuna prupriens). The result of aqueous extract of velvet bean (Mucuna prupriens) leaves and roots revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phytosterols, carbohydrates, proteins, terpenoids and anthraquinones while tannins, glycosides were found absent. Similarly, the aqueous roots extract revealed all the phytochemical tested except flavonoids, terpenoids were absent in the roots of velvet bean (Mucuna prupriens). Results of this study may provide a foundation for designing new drugs for several diseases.