PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF SELECTED MORPHOLOGICAL ORGANS OF COCOS NUCIFERA L.
Olalekan Amos Akinyemi and Faith Sunday Oyelere*
ABSTRACT
Cocos nucifera is a fascinating plant with different uses ranging from domestic to therapeutic. Its therapeutic properties can however not be untraced to its phytochemical profile. In this experimental study, the presence of tannin, phenol, flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid and volatile oil was determined in the endosperm (coconut meat), endocarp (coconut hard shell) and leaf extracts of Cocos nucifera at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 % concentrations of aqueous, ethanol, methanol and ethylacetate solvents. This qualitative analysis reveals that all tested phytochemicals are present in the selected morphological organs of the plant. However, their presence is not proportional. Volatile oil was only present in the endocarp extract at 1, 2 % ethylacetate and 5% ethanol concentrations. In the same vein, phenol was only found present in endocarp extract of the plant. Alkaloid and flavonoid were identified in the leaf extract of the plant only. The presence of tannin and saponin were confirmed in all considered organs of the plant. We therefore conclude that the presence of certain phytochemicals in all selected morphological organs of Cocos nucifera shows that the considered organs might be of therapeutic use.
Keywords: Cocos nucifera, coconut hard shell.
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