A Study on the Checklist of Plants and their Phytochemical Contents from Ugwuto Forest in Nsude, Enugu State

Received 26 Jul, 2022

Accepted 30 Mar, 2023

Published 28 Apr, 2023

Background and Objective: The plant diversity of the Ugwuto forest is made up of so many forms of plants. The plants range from lower plants such as Marchantia to higher plants like Daniellia oliveri. The objective of this study was to as certain plant types in the Ugwuto forest and their phytochemical composition. Materials and Methods: Quadrat was thrown at the foot and the peak of the forest for the selection of the herbs. The aerial observation was used to select the trees and climbers. A total of 126 plants were collected from the forest while nineteen of these plants were analyzed for different phytochemicals. The Completely Randomized Design was used for this study. Results: The plants studied fell under 42 different families. The result of phytochemical analysis of the leaves of the nineteen plants studied revealed that A. boonei had the highest composition of the alkaloid (33.900±0.000%), A. Africana had the highest percentage composition of saponin (2.207±0.000), steroid content was highest in A. conyzoides (2.127±0.006), M. lucida had the highest composition of phenol (50.967±0.058) and glycoside was highest in the leaf of O. celtidifolia (16.16±0.058). Conclusion: All the plants studied are the reservoir of many useful phytochemicals especially alkaloids are at is found in the plants. This suggests that these plants can be used by the pharmaceutical industries for producing drugs that will be effective in the cure of different ailments and disorders.

INTRODUCTION

The importance of plants to man and his environment is indispensables¹. The plant kingdom represents a great reservoir of biologically active compounds with diverse chemical structures and phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are secondary metabolites that are often present in smaller quantities in higher plants². The specific function of many phytochemicals is still unclear, however, a considerable number of studies have shown that they are involved in the interaction of plants/pests/diseases³.

Phytochemical constituents from medicinal plants serve as a source of lead components in drug discovery and design⁴. Some of these chemicals are not only of medicinal value but can also serve man in the field of food supplements, folk neutraceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates⁵. It has been noted that more than 80% of the world’s population depends on plants for their primary health care⁶. According to Weissermel and Arpe⁷, endemic plants should be investigated the understand their pharmacological properties and efficacy. According to the survey, it was noted that most modern prescriptions contain plant-derived lead molecules based on drug formation. Despite the medicinal and socio-economic potentials of plant species, they are becoming scarce and thus threatened with extinction⁸.

Plants are classified based on taxonomic evidence. This evidence is sourced from many aspects of Botany such as Morphology, Anatomy, Palynology, Embryology, Cytology, Phytochemistry, Ultrastructure, Genome analyses and Nucleic acid hybridization⁹.

Plant morphology mainly deals with the external characteristics of the plant such as habits and structures of the root, bud and leaf. Traditional taxonomy considers the morphological character only as useful evidence. It provided the basic language for plant characterization, classification and identification, etc. Morphological data is useful in taxonomic studies¹⁰.

Most of those plants used in the treatment of ailments have not undergone modern scientific research to prove the authenticity of the efficacy of the plants especially those in natural vegetation like the Ugwuto forest. Therefore, it is necessary to subject those medicinal plants to scientific research to know if they have potential elements that can be used to treat ailments that are related to the signatures. This must be done alongside appropriate taxonomic studies of those plants.

This research was conducted to document the plants in the Ugwuto forest and to ascertain their phytochemical components.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area
Ugwuto forest: Ugwuto forest is in Nsude Udi, Enugu, Nigeria, its geographical coordinates are 6°24'0" North, 7°24'0" East. The forest is located at the famous Udi hill. It is close to Enugu/Onitsha express road by the right-hand side from Onitsha to Enugu, in between Ogwofia Owa and 9th Mile Corner Nsude. The elevation of the hill is 456 m above sea level. The base of the forest is filled with main herbs, some shrubs and a few trees, but the vegetation between the base and the peak of the hill is mainly trees and climbers. The peak of the hill is rocky and covered with herbs of different species. The study was carried out at Ugwuto Forest Enugu and the Department of Botany Laboratory, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka from March, 2019 to August, 2021.

Study design: The study design was Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Quadrat was thrown at the foot and the peak of the forest for the selection of the herbs. The aerial observation was used to select the trees and climbers.

Collection of samples and sample preparation: The leaves stem and roots of plant species were collected from the Ugwuto forest, Ugwuto Nsude, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State Southern Nigeria using Michael et al.¹¹ methods. The voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The leaves that were used were third, the roots were second.

Verification of the checklist of plants in Ugwuto forest: The checklist of the plants in the Ugwuto forest was verified by going around the forest and listing the names of the plants found therein.

Phytochemical composition
Determination of alkaloids: The method of Anukwuorji et al.¹², was used for this determination. Five grams of the sample were weighed using an electric weighing balance into a 250 mL beaker. About 100 mL of 10% acetic acid in ethanol was added, covered and allowed to stand for 4 hrs. This was filtered ad the extract was concentrated in a water bath to one-quarter of the original volume. Twenty mL of concentrated ammonium hydroxide was added drop-wise to form a precipitate. The solution was filtered with a weighed filter paper and the precipitate was collected. The filter paper and precipitate were dried in the oven at 40°C. The filter paper was then reweighed and the percentage of alkaloid was calculated¹²:

Where:

	W1	=	Weight of filter paper alone
	W2	=	Weight of filter paper residue
	W3	=	Weight of the sample used

Determination of saponin: The samples were ground and 10 g of each were put into a conical flask and 100 mL of 20% aqueous ethanol was added. The samples were heated over a hot water bath for 4 hrs with continuous stirring at 55°C. The mixture was filtered and the residue was re-extracted with 100 mL of 20% ethanol. The combined extracts were reduced to 40 mL over a water bath at 90°C. The concentrate was transferred into a 250 mL separating funnel and 20 mL of diethyl ether was added and shaken vigorously. The supernatant (upper layer) was discarded and the purification process was repeated. Exactly 60 mL of n-butanol was added and the bottom and upper layers of the mixture were discarded and recovered respectively. The combined n-butanol extracts were washed twice with 10 mL of 5% aqueous sodium chloride. The lower layer was discarded and the upper layer recovered. The remaining solution was heated in a water bath.

After evaporation, the samples were dried in the oven and the saponin content was calculated thus¹³:

Where:

	W1	=	Weight of evaporating dish
	W2	=	Weight of the dish+sample
	W3	=	Weight of sample

Determination of tannins: Five hundred milligrams, 0.5 g of sample was weighed into a 250 mL conical flask and 50 mL distilled water was added. The mixture was shaken for 1 hr on a rotary shaker and was filtered into a conical flask. Five mL of the filtrate was pipetted into a 50 mL volumetric flask and was made up to the mark with distilled water. One hundred milligrams, 0.1 g of tannic acid was dissolved in 100 mL of water to form a tannic solution. Five mL of the solution was pipetted into another 50 mL volumetric flask and made up to the volume. A blank sample was prepared using 5 mL of distilled water.

The three samples were put in an incubator for 1 hr at 30°C. The absorbance was measured at 760 nm¹⁴:

Where:

	X	=	Extract
	Z	=	Blank
	Y	=	Standard

Determination of glycosides: Ten mL of each extract (of water and ethanol) was pipetted into different boiling tubes. Two mL of DNS, DiNitrosalycylic reagent were added and the tubes were placed into a beaker of boiling water for 10 min. The tubes were then cooled in cold water and 10 mL of distilled water was added. The absorbance was measured at 390 nm wavelength using a spectrophotometer¹⁵.

Calculation:

RESULTS

Checklist of plants from Ugwuto forest in Nsude: The plants studied fell under 42 different families and they were of various habits, 69 of the plants were trees, 22 were shrubs, 26 were herbs and 8 were climbers (Table 1).

Phytochemical analyses of the leaves: The phytochemical analysis of the leaves of the nineteen plants studied revealed that A. boonei had the highest percentage composition of the alkaloid (33.900±0.000^a%), A. Africana had the highest percentage composition of saponin (2.207±0.000^a), steroid content was highest in A. conyzoides (2.127±0.006^a), M. lucida had the highest composition of phenol (50.967±0.058^a) and glycoside was highest in the leaf of O. celtidifolia (16.16±0.058^a). Alkaloid contents of P. pellucida, O. celtidifolia, A. africana, A. conyzoides, S. filicaulis, F. elastica, C. aralliodes, A. boonei, D. vellutinum, E. coccinea and A. repens had no significant difference among them. A. ferruginea, P. nitida, G. brevis and C. capitatum had no significant difference. F. thonningii, F. vogelii and M. lucida were among the third group that did not have a significant difference in their alkaloid content (Table 2).

For saponin content of the leaves, there were four groups of plant species that did not have any significant difference among them. The first group included P. pellucida, A. africana, F. vogelii, F. elastica, C. aralliodes, A. boonei, S. filicaulis and E. coccinea. The second group included A. ferruginea, A. conyzoides, A. repens, F. thonningii, P. nitida, D. vellutinum, A. repens, E. coccinea and C. capitatum. The third group that did not have a significant difference in their saponin contents were O. celtidifolia, C. afer and M. lucida. Graecoanatolica brevis had no saponin in its leaves (Table 2).

There were four groups of plant species that have no significant differences in the steroid content of the leaves. The first group included P. pellucida, G. brevis and C. capitatum. The second group included O. celtidifolia, E. coccinea, A. boonei, P. nitida, A. conyzoides, S. filicaulis, F. elastica, A. repens. In the third group were F. vogelii, C. aralliodes, A. ferruginea, A. africana, M. lucida and C. afer. Ficus thonningii and D. vellutinum were the members of the fourth group (Table 2).

Table 1:

Checklist of plants observed during survey in Ugwuto forest

S/N	Species name	Vernacular name	Family	Habit
1	Abrus precatorius Adans	Anya-nnunu	Mimosaceae	Climber
2	Acanthus momtanus Anders	Agamevu	Acanthaceae	Herb
3	Afromomum melegueta Schum	Oseoji	Zingiberaceae	Herb
4	Afzelia africana Kennedy	Akpalata	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
5	Afzelia bipindensis Harms	Aja	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
6	Ageratum conyzoides Linn	Agadinwayiisiawo	Asteraceae	Herb
7	Albizia adianthifolia Gull and Per	Avu	Mimosaceae	Tree
8	Albizia ferruguinea Welw	Ngwu	Mimosaceae	Tree
10	Alchonea florinbunda Coriaria	Mba	Apocynaceae	Tree
11	Alstonia boonei Linn	Egbu	Apocynaceae	Tree
12	Alternenthera repens Lindl		Amaranthaceae	Herb
13	Anacardium occidentalis Chev	Kashu	Anacardiaceae	Tree
14	Anthonotha macrophylla Beav	Ububaipa	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
15	Antiaris africana Jussieu	Ojianwu	Moraceae	Tree
16	Aspilia africana Lodd	Alamejuna	Asteraceae	Shrub
17	Azadirachta indica Lodd	Ogwonnuoria	Meliaceae	Tree
18	Baphia nitida Bak	Aboshi	Papilionaceae	Tree
19	Baphia pubescence Hook	Aboshi	Papilionaceae	Tree
20	Berliniacraibiana Benth	Ububankuru	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
21	Bliglia sapida Konig	Okpucha	Sapindaceae	Shrub
22	Boerhavia diffusa Linn	Azu-igwe	Nyctaginaceae	Herb
23	Boquia angolensis Ficalho	Oze	Moraceae	Tree
24	Brachystegia eurycoma Harms	Achi	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
25	Brillantasia nitens Beav	Ikpereukwuenyi	Brillantaceae	Herb
26	Bulchhozia coreacea Engl	Oji-oma	Capparidaceae	Tree
27	Cassytha filiformis Linn	Nkogbu-oka	Lauraceae	Climer
28	Ceiba pentandra Engl	Akpun’enu	Bombacaceae	Tree
29	Celtis mildbraedii Robbbinson	Akpula	Ulmaceae	Tree
30	Chromolaena odorata Linn	Obialijeohii	Asteraceae	Herb
31	Cissus aralioides Linn	Ugu-ohia	Ampelidaceae	Climber
32	Cleistopholis patens Benth	Ojo	Annonaceae	Tree
33	Clerodendron capitatum Diels		Verbenaceae	Shrub
34	Cnetis ferruguinea D.C.	Utu nkita	Connaraceae	Shrub
35	Corchorus olitorius Linn	Ahahaa	Tiliaceae	Herb
36	Costusafer Braun	Okwoto	Zingiberaceae	Herb
37	Cylicodiscus gabunensis Harms		Mimosaceae	Tree
38	Dalbergia saxatalis Linn	Ogundu	Papilionaceae	Shrub
39	Daniellia oliveri Rolfe	Agba	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
40	Dennetiatripetala Schumm	Mmimi	Annonaceae	Tree
41	Desmodium vellutinum Wild	Obidike	Papilionaceae	Herb
42	Dialium guineense Linn	Ukopi	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
43	Dichrostachys cinerea S.W.		Mimosaceae	Tree
44	Dioscorea dumenterum Kenth	Ighu	Dioscoreaceae	Climber
45	Draceana arborea Link	Ukporoju	Dipterocarpaceae	Tree
46	Draceanamannai Bak	Ukporoju	Dipterocarpaceae	Shrub
47	Diodia scandens S.W.	Ekwu-eme	Rubiaceae	Herb
47	Elaeisguinensis Jacq	Nkwu	Arecaceae	Tree
48	Eleusine indica Gaertem	Ichito	Poaceae	Herb
49	Emilia coccinea G.Don	Ntiene	Asteraceae	Herb
50	Emiliasonchifolia Sims	Ogbunizu	Asteraceae	Herb
51	Entada abyssinica Staudex	Agharamiri	Mimosaceae	Tree
52	Errythropheleumivorense Chev	Iyi	Ceasalpinaceae	Tree
53	Erythrina senegalensis F.T.A	Aja-ezu	Papilionaceae	Tree
54	Euphorbia heterophylla Linn	Ogwu-Afo	Euphorbiaceae	Herb
56	Euphorbia hirta Lam	Udo-ani	Euphorbiaceae	Herb
57	Fagara zanthoxyloides Vahl	Uko	Rutaceae	Tree
58	Ficus ovate Linn	Ogbu	Moraceae	Tree
59	Ficus benghalensis Linn	Ogbu-Oku	Moraceae	Tree
60	Ficus elastica Linn	Ogbuudele	Moraceae	Tree
61	Ficus exasperate Linn	Awuliwa	Moraceae	Tree
62	Ficus sur Heckel		Moraceae	Tree
64	Ficus thonningii Linn	Ogbunfeewu	Moraceae	Tree
65	Ficus vogeliana Linn	Ogbuegbo	Moraceae	Tree
66	Ficus vogelli Linn	Ogbu	Moraceae	Tree
67	Fleuriaaestuants Burm		Urticaceae	Herb
68	Garcinia kola Heckel	Aki ilu	Guttiferae	Tree
69	Glyphaea brevis Welw	Ayachu	Tiliaceae	Tree
70	Gnetum africana Welw	Ukazi	Gnetaceae	Climber
71	Gongronema latifolium	Utazi	Asclepiadaceae	Climber
72	Harungana madagascariensis Lam		Hypericaceae	Climber
73	Hexalobus crispiflorus Rich	Oji ogada	Annonaceae	Tree
74	Hirsute portulaca Staudt		Zingiberaceae	Herb
75	Hyptis suaveolens Poit	Ogwu-anwu	Lamiaceae	Herb
76	Icacina tragachantha Oliv	Utumo-nkita	Icacinaceae	Shrub
77	Irvingia gabonensis Linn		Irvingiaceae	Tree
78	Kalachoe pinnatum Lindl	Oda-opue	Caricaceae	Herb
79	Landolphia dulcis Linn	Utu	Apocynaceae	Climber
80	Lantana camara Lindl		Verbenaceae	Tree
81	Mangifera indica G.Don	Mango	Anacardaceae	Tree
82	Memecylon blakeoides G.Don	Anya enyi	Melastomataceae	Tree
83	Milletia aboensis Hook		Papillionaceae	Tree
84	Milletia rhodantha Baker	Nzashi	Papilionaceae	Tree
85	Milletia thonningii Arn	Ilo	Papilionaceae	Tree
86	Millicia excels Bentham	Oji	Moraceae	Tree
87	Mondia whitei Wight	Adoo	Periplocaceae	Climber
88	Morinda lucida Bentham	Eze-ogwu	Rubiaceae	Tree
89	Mucuna flagelibis Lindl	Agbara	Papilionaceae	Shrub
90	Napoleona imperalis P.Beav	Ukpoju	Lecythidaceae	Tree
91	Nauclea latifolium Lindl	Ovuluminu	Rubiaceae	Tree
92	Newbouldia laevis Beav	Ogirisi	Bignoniaceae	Tree
93	Opilia celtidifolia Linn	Akuito	Opiliaceae	Shrub
94	Palisota hirsute Schumm	Ikpereukwuaghulu	Commelinaceae	Herb
95	Parkia bicolour Linn	Ogiriokpei	Mimosaceae	Tree
96	Parkia clappertoniana Linn	Ogiri	Mimosaceae	Tree
97	Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth	Ukpaka	Mimosaceae	Tree
98	Peperomia pellucid Pav		Piperaceae	Herb
99	Phyllantus amarus Schumm	Enyi-kwo-nwa	Euphorbiaceae	Herb
100	Picralima nitida Linn	Oseuta	Apocynaceae	Tree
101	Prosopis africana Linn	OgiriOkpei	Mimosaceae	Tree
102	Pterocarpus santalinoides Harms	Uturukpa	Paipilionaceae	Tree
103	Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel	Akanta	Apocynaceae	Shrub
104	Ritchiea capparoides De Wild		Capparidaceae	Shrub
105	Rothmania nitida Schumm	Uli	Rubiaceae	Shrub
106	Securidaca longepedunculata	Ikeagwunwankpi	Polygalaceae	Tree
107	Securinega virosa Schumm		Polygonaceae	Shrub
108	Sellaria media Burm	Nri-okuko	Caryophyllaceae	Herb
109	Senna alata Roxb	Ogwu-ngwo	Caesalpiniaceae	Shrub
110	Senna occidentals Link	Nsigbummuo	Casesalpiniaceae	Shrub
111	Senna rotundifolia Lindl		Caesalpinaceae	Shrub
112	Senna tora Lindl	Nsigbummuo	Caesalpiniaceae	Herb
113	Sida acuta Burm	Otakpo	Malvaceae	Shrub
114	Spathodea campanulata Beauv	Imiewu	Bignoniaceae	Shrub
115	Spilanthes filicaulis Welw	Ose ani	Asteraceae	Herb
116	Spondias cyteria Lindl		Anacardiaceae	Tree
117	Staudiastipitata Warb		Myristicaceae	Tree
118	Terapleura tetraptera Taub	Asirisha	Mimosaceae	Tree
119	Treculia africana Decne	Ukwa	Moraceae	Tree
120	Trema guineensis Linn	Telemukwu	Ulmaceae	Tree
121	Urena lobata Linn	Udo	Malvaceae	Shrub
122	Uvaria chamae Palisot	Ekpelekawata	Annonaceae	Shrub
123	Vernonia comfirta Schreb		Asteraceae	Tree
124	Voacanga africana Stapf	Osisi-roba	Apocynaceae	Shrub
125	Xylopia quintasii Lindl	Udofia	Annonaceae	Tree
126	Xylopia vilosa Lindl	Uda	Annonaceae	Shrub

Table 2:

Phytochemical composition of the leaves of all the plants studied

	Percentage composition
Plant part	Alkaloid	Saponin	Steroid	Tannin	Phenol	Glycoside
Peperomia pellucid	2.177±0.006a	1.047±0.006a	ND	3.603±0.006a	ND	0.1700.010b
Opiliaceltidifolia	1.890±0.017a	1.033±0.006c	1.423±0.006a	0.427±0.006b	0.113±0.006b	16.16±0.058a
Albizia ferruginea	1.027±0.006b	1.143±0.006b	0.907±0.012c	0.160±0.020c	0.063±0.006c	0.063±0.0076c
Aspiliaafricana	6.303±0.006a	2.207±0.006a	0.120±0.010c	0.180±0.001b	0.110±0.010c	10.233±0.115a
Ageratum conyzoides	4.247±0.006a	0.387±0.006b	2.127±0.006a	5.103±0.006a	2.823±0.012a	0.277±0.006b
Spilanthes filicaulis	1.333±0.006a	2.120±0.010a	1.027±0.006a	6.787±0.006a	1.063±0.012a	ND
Ficus thonningii	0.057±0.006c	1.510±0.010a	0.037±0.006b	1.263±0.012b	1.147±0.006a	ND
Ficus vogelli	0.087±0.006c	1.477±0.006a	0.017±0.006c	1.177±0.006a	1.090±0.010a	ND
Ficus elastic	9.057±0.006a	1.390±0.010a	0.027±0.006b	1.137±0.006a	1.110±0.010a	0.057±0.006b
Cissus aralliodes	1.827±0.006a	0.640±0.010a	0.023±0.006b	0.140±0.010a	0.117±0.012b	1.827±0.006a
Morinda lucida	0.200±0.000c	0.397±0.006c	0.013±0.006c	0.177±0.006a	50.967±0.058a	ND
Costusafer	0.770±0.010c	0.317±0.015c	0.033±0.006c	0.287±0.015c	ND	ND
Alstoniaboonei	33.900±0.000a	0.367±0.105a	0.117±0.006a	0.146±0.001b	0.810±0.000a	0.103±0.006c
Desmodium vellutinum	2.133±0.015a	0.317±0.006b	0.133±0.006b	0.110±0.010c	0.027±0.006b	0.120±0.010c
Picralima nitida	0.323±0.006b	0.307±0.006b	0.113±0.006a	0.277±0.006b	0.137±0.006c	ND
Alternenthera repens	0.263±0.012a	0.117±0.006b	0.117±0.006b	0.107±0.006b	0.047±0.015b	0.117±0.012c
Emilia coccinea	1.723±0.012a	0.367±0.012b	0.210±0.010a	0.360±0.010b	1.307±0.006a	0.113±0.113b
Glyphaea brevis	0.177±0.006b	ND	ND	ND	0.107±0.006b	3.417±0.006b
Clerodendron capitatum	0.237±0.012b	0.053±0.006b	ND	0.013±0.006c	ND	0.087±0.006b
p-value	**	**	**	**	**	**
Results in Means±Standard Deviation followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p = 0.05, it is done in rows, ND: Not detected and **Means the level of significance

There were four groups of plants with no significant difference in their tannin percentage composition of the leaves. The first group included P. pellucida, M. lucida, C. aralliodes, F. elastica, S. filicaulis, A. conyzoides, F. vogelii and A. repens. The second group included O. celtidifolia, A. africana, F. thonningii, A. boonei, A. repens, P. nitida and E. coccinea. The third group without a significant difference in their tannin content included D. vellutinum, A. ferruginea, C. capitatum and C. afer, G. brevis had no tannin (Table 2).

For phenol content of the leaves, there were three groups of plant species that did not have any significant difference among them. The first group included P. pellucida, C. aralliodes and C. capitatum E. coccinea. The second group included A. repens, O. celtidifolia, C. afer and G. brevis. A. ferruginea, A. africana and P. nitida were members of the third group. Desmodium velutinum, A. repens and the fourth group that did not have a significant difference in their saponin contents was A. conyzoides, S. filicaulis, F. vogelii, F. elastica, F. thonningii, A. boonei, E. coccinea and M. lucida (Table 2).

There were four groups of plants with no significant difference in their glycoside percentage composition of the leaves. The first group included G. brevis, C. capitatum, E. coccinea, P. pellucida, F. elastica, A. conyzoides and A. repens. The second group included O. celtidifolia, C. aralliodes and A. africana. The third group without significant difference in their glycoside content included A. boonei, A. repens, D. vellutinum and A. ferruginea. The fourth group comprises S. filicaulis, F. thonningii, F. vogelii, P. nitida, M. lucida and C. afer (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

The plant diversity of the forest is made up of many forms of plants. The plants range from lower plants such as Marchantia to higher plants like Daniellia oliveri. The morphological features of Ficus thonningii, Ficus elastic and F. vogelli showed that they had a close relationship. Such features were the presence of white latex, the peppery taste of the leaves and the possession of aerial roots which are features of the genus Ficus. The anatomical features such as the absence of leaf hairs, the presence of intercellular spaces in the roots and the presence of deposits in the stem were the same in the members of the genus Ficus studied. The leaf epidermises of Ficus vogelii and Ficus thonningii are multiseriate, showing the similarity of both plants since scientists had earlier said that epidermal nature is of taxonomic significance. Aspilia africana, Ageratum conyzoides and Emilia coccinea which were the members of Asteraceae studied showed similar morphological features such as herbaceous nature and pubescent body as stated by Singh¹⁶.

The statement of Saxena and Saxena¹⁷ that families with all species without tannin include Amaranthaceae and Verbenaceae does not concur with this work, because A. repens and C. capitatum which belong to the families Amaranthaceae and Verbenaceae respectively have tannin in them as seen in this work. However, the presence of steroids in P. nitida confirmed his statement that the family Apocynaceae is known for its steroidal content. Generally, the phytochemical contents of P. pellucida which belong to the family Piperaceae were not significantly different from those of A. africana, A. conyzoides and E. coccinea which belong to the family Asteraceae.

The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides in G. brevis agreed with the findings of Zanatta et al.¹⁸. Tannin was not found in the leaf. Generally, the phytochemical constituents of the plant were minimal. This did not agree with the findings of Zanatta et al.¹⁸, who reported a significant quantity of phytochemicals in the leaves. Etuk and Mohammed¹⁹ stated that there was the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and active proteins in F. thonningii. This finding supported the result of this present work. This present work did not agree with the statement of so many researchers that glycoside is ubiquitous in the entire genus Ficus. There was no glycoside in the F. thonningii as shown in this present work. The result of the work of Ekor²⁰ concurs with this work because of the presence of some phytochemicals such as alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins.

The presence of alkaloids and other phytochemicals in various parts of C. capitatum is in line with the work of Ruiz-Terán et al.²¹. The phytochemical results of F. vogelii as stated by Malik et al.²² were in line with the result of this work because there was a presence of alkaloid, flavonoid and other phytochemicals in F. vogelii. Morinda lucida had some phytochemical constituents that Odoh et al.²³, also found in the plant. Such chemicals were alkaloids, tannins and saponins. Alkaloid as found by Bagchi et al.²⁴, is abundant in angiosperms. This work confirmed Bagchi et al.²⁴, statement that alkaloid is abundant in angiosperms. All the plants that were worked on in this work had alkaloids. This work revealed that the leaves of all the plants assayed had alkaloids in various quantities as seen in Table 1. Saponin was found in the leaves of all the plants assayed except that of G. brevis.

This study depicted that the Ugwuto forest in Enugu State is a reservoir of plants with rich medicinal phytochemicals. The inference of the study has laid sufficient background for further research on the different species of plants identified in the forest and their phytochemicals substances. No doubt, the study has helped in establishing scientific evidence for the rationality of the traditional use of plants for curing so many ailments. It is on record that these phytochemicals especially alkaloid that was chiefly detected in most plants in the study area play significant roles in the formulation of drugs that help in strengthening the human immune system, reducing inflammation and preventing the damaged cell from reproducing among so many other benefits.

CONCLUSION

The leaf extracts of the plants in the Ugwuto forest studied showed an abundant production of phytochemicals, especially alkaloid that was present in all the plants as secondary metabolites. The enormous phytochemical constituents of these plants give a basis for their use in traditional medicine to manage ailments and disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Plants have contributed significantly to the stability of the earth and the sustenance of life through the production of food and medical substances. It is on this note that this research was conducted to document the plants in the Ugwuto forest and to ascertain their phytochemical components. This study discovers that most plants in the Ugwuto forest are reservoirs of various phytochemicals that can be used by the pharmaceutical industries for producing drugs because of the presence of heavy biological active ingredients. The most common phytochemical detected was alkaloid which is of great importance in the pharmaceutical industry. This justifies the use of these plants in traditional medicine for the treatment and prevention of various diseases that affect humans.

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