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Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 6(12), pp. 2289-2294, 30 March, 2012<br />
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR<br />
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.201<br />
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2012 <strong>Academic</strong> <strong>Journals</strong><br />
Full Length Research Paper<br />
Phytochemicaland proximate analyses and thin layer<br />
chromatography fingerprinting of the aerial part of<br />
Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn. (Chenopodiaceae)<br />
Okhale, Samuel Ehiabhi 1 *, Egharevba, Henry Omoregie 1 , Ona, Eneyi Comfort 1,2 and<br />
Kunle, Oluyemisi Folashade 1,3<br />
1 Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and<br />
Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, Idu, P. M. B. 21 Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.<br />
2 Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.<br />
3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jos, Nigeria.<br />
Accepted 1 February, 2012<br />
The aerial part of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., reputable for the treatment of malaria and diabetes in<br />
Nigeria, was qualitatively screened for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard methods.<br />
Some proximate parameters were also determined. The result of the phytochemical screening revealed<br />
the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenes, sterols, cardenolide aglycone,<br />
volatile oils and carbohydrates. The proximate analysis revealed moisture content of 10.90%, total ash<br />
value of 14.65%, acid-insoluble ash value of 3.05%, water-soluble ash of 6.25%, water-soluble extractive<br />
value of 3.18% and alcohol-soluble extractive value of 13.20%. The thin layer chromatography<br />
fingerprinting and phytochemical screening revealed several chemical components, which could be<br />
isolated from the plant. This study shows that C. ambrosioides is a potential drug plant considering the<br />
rich phytochemical and proximate pharmacognostic profile of the aerial part, hence its folkloric uses.<br />
The result of this study is the first of its kind on the Nigerian species of this plant drug, and is<br />
informative for standardization and monograph development of this herbal plant.<br />
Key words: Chenopodium ambrosioides, secondary metabolites, thin layer chromatography, pharmacognostic<br />
analysis, antimalaria, Mexican tea, ash value.<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
Chenopodium ambrosioides L. also known as epazote,<br />
Mexican tea, and wormseed, belongs to the family<br />
Chenopodiaceae. The species is wide-spread and<br />
originates from tropical America (Munz, 1975). C.<br />
ambrosioides is an annual or short-lived perennial herb<br />
that grows to over 1 m high, with aromatic glandular<br />
hairs. It has a strong rank smell when bruised and the<br />
leaves have a pungent smell (Burkill, 1985).<br />
Chenopodium species have a wide variety of medicinal<br />
properties (Burkill, 1985; Tapondjou et al., 2002). In<br />
*Corresponding author. E-mail: samokhale@yahoo.com.<br />
Spain, the dry or fresh aerial part of C. ambrosioides is<br />
boiled in water and drunk after meals as digestifs,<br />
stomachics, and in some cases as hemostatic, stimulant,<br />
laxative and antidiarrhoeic. It is also used to reduce blood<br />
pressure and to treat colds and fibroids (Filipoy, 1994). It<br />
has been used for centuries as condiment, traditional<br />
antihelmintic and antimalarial (Ruffa et al., 2002). The<br />
plant is sometimes cultivated principally for medicinal<br />
uses in West Africa where the leaves are added as<br />
flavorings to soup, pounded leaves are applied to sores,<br />
or to swellings on the body and to areas of pain. The<br />
aromatic smell is inhaled for headache. The plant is used<br />
for the treatment of diabetes. In Nigeria, the whole plant<br />
is pounded and eaten as a laxative, and its infusion is