European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHYTOCHEMICAL QUANTIFICATION OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS IN EASTERN KENYA

Amadi Everlyne Kareji*

ABSTRACT

Herbal medicines are used to treat common diseases currently due to the fact that they are cheaper, available and believed to present lesser side effects. This research project was involved in evaluation of herbal medicinal plants used by herbalists in Eastern Kenya for treatment of typhoid, pneumonia and candidiasis. Efficacy of these herbal plants through quantitative analysis of phytochemicals present in the solvent extracts was determined. Specific parts including bark, stem and leaves of five different medicinal plants used to treat bacterial and fungal infections specifically pneumonia, typhoid and candidiasis were collected and studied. The plants included Terminalia brownii, Vernonia brachycalyx,Carrisa edulis, Aloe secundiflora and Tithonia diversifolia. The amount of tannins, saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids in each of the specie was determined and quantified. The findings of this research has provided a scientific basis for the use of these drugs in the treatment of typhoid, pneumonia and candidiasis by herbalists in Eastern Kenya.

Keywords: Herbal, Phytochemical, Typhoid, Pneumonia, Candidiasis.