BESSM, 2020, Vol 4, No 1, 25-27 - 25 - Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Quantitative Analysis of Flavonoids from the Stem Bark Extract of Commiphora africana (Burseraceae) Hambali Dauda 1 , Garba Uba 1 * and Umar Ali 2 1 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, College of Science and Technology, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, PMB 7040, Nigeria. 2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Natural Science, Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa state. *Corresponding author: Garba Uba Department of Science Laboratory Technology, College of Science and Technology, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, PMB 7040 Email: garbauba@jigpoly.edu.ng INTRODUCTION The use of conventional medicines and medicinal plants as therapeutic agents for the preservation of good health has been commonly documented in most developed countries [1]. Traditional medicine is the sum total of expertise, skills and procedures based on ideas, values and experiences common to various cultures that are used to preserve health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or manage physical and mental illness. Modern medicine adopted by other communities (outside of its indigenous culture) is sometimes referred to as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) [2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 80 per cent of the developing world population relies on conventional medicine for treatment. In the past decades, the developed world has also witnessed an increasing trend in the use of CAM, especially herbal remedies [2,3]. Herbal medicines include spices, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products containing parts of plants or other plant materials as active ingredients. Although 90 % of the population in Ethiopia uses herbal remedies for their primary health care, studies in developed countries such as Germany and Canada continue to indicate that at least 70% of their population has tried CAM at least once [3]. Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) is a genus of the Burseraceae family. The plant is named "dashi" in Hausa, "badadi" in Fulfude and "kabi" in the languages of Kanuri in Nigeria[4]. It is a bush shrub or small tree found mostly in the savannah forest and dry areas of tropical Africa. It is commonly used for the diagnosis of a variety of diseases including typhoid, wound healing, pain relief, dysentery, heartburn, snakebite, antimalaria, plaster and spasm [5]. Despite the medicinal applications of Commiphora africana, there is lack of information on the active phytochemical component responsible the medicinal properties. This study, therefore, is aimed at HISTORY Received: 25 th Jan 2020 Received in revised form: 14 th of March 2020 Accepted: 18 th of April 2020 ABSTRACT The use of medicinal plants as a fundamental component of the traditional African health care system is perhaps the oldest, sustainable and most diverse of all therapeutic methods. Traditional medicinal herbal healers are, in many parts of rural Africa, the most readily accessible and inexpensive health resource available to the local population and, at times, the only surviving treatment. The Phytochemical analysis of Commiphora africana was carried out in three different organic solvents n-hexane, methanol and aqueous. Preliminary qualitative analysis revealed the presence of all the Phytochemicals analysed except anthraquinone and steroids. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that n-hexane fraction of Commiphora africana contains more phenolics and glycosides (6.2 ± 0.02, and 7.2 ± 0.1) respectively as compared to flavonoid (4.1± 0.03). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of n- hexane extract of the plant using three standard flavonoids rutin, quercitin and gallic acid showed comparable RT values. From the calibration curve, it was compared and revealed the presence of more quercitin (60%) followed by gallic acid in a negligible amount. Quercetin has specific biological properties, which can enhance mental / physical efficiency and reduce the risk of infection. KEYWORDS Commiphora africana flavonoids HPLC Phytochemicals quercetin BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT` Website: https://journal.hibiscuspublisher.com/index.php/BESSM BESSM VOL 4 NO 1 2020 COCONUT SHELL GAC