Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences 2017; 5(5): 198-205 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/jfns doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20170505.16 ISSN: 2330-7285 (Print); ISSN: 2330-7293 (Online) Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Some Plants Used in Ethnomedicine in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Mercy Gospel Ajuru 1, * , Light Femi Williams 1 , Gospel Ajuru 2 1 Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu- Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2 Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email address: ajurumercygospel@yahoo.com (M. G. Ajuru) * Corresponding author To cite this article: Mercy Gospel Ajuru, Light Femi Williams, Gospel Ajuru. Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Some Plants Used in Ethnomedicine in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences. Vol. 5, No. 5, 2017, pp. 198-205. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20170505.16 Received: April 29, 2017; Accepted: May 10, 2017; Published: October 24, 2017 Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of six plants used in ethnomedicine in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria was carried out to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds present in these highly medicinal plants. The plants studied were Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn, Euphorbia heterophylla Linn., Senna occidentalis L., Piper nigrum L., Ageratum conyzoides L. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves of the plant species were screened for the presence of alkaloid, anthraquinone, coumarin, flavonoid, phenol, quinone, saponin, tannin, sugar and glycoside and quantitative study was also carried out using Standard method. Qualitative study indicated the presence of all the phytochemicals in the ethanolic extracts of P. amarus and E. heterophylla, and absence of anthraquinone in S. occidentalis, P. nigrum, A. conyzoides and G. latifolium. Also, absence of coumarin in S. occidentalis, and phenol in G. latifolium. The aqueous extract indicated the presence of all the phytochemicals in A. conyzoides and presence of alkaloid, tannin, sugar and glycoside in other plant species studied. Quantitative analysis showed variable amounts of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoid, saponins and phenol in all the plants investigated. The different phytochemicals are shown to perform different biological activities in humans and animals. These compounds can be harnessed for industrial and pharmaceutical utilization. Keywords: Bioactive Compounds, Ethnomedicine, Medicinal Plants, Quantitative Study, Qualitative Study, Ethanolic Extract, Aqueous Extract 1. Introduction Phytochemicals are non- nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. They are non-essential nutrients, meaning that they are not required by the human body for sustaining life. It is well-known that plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves but recent research demonstrates that they can also protect against diseases [1]. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals. Some of the well-known phytochemicals are lycopene in tomatoes, Isoflavones in soy and flavonoids in fruits. Phytochemicals are naturally present in many foods but it is expected that through bioengineering new plants will be developed, which will contain higher levels of phytochemicals. This would make it easier to incorporate enough phytochemicals with our food [1-3]. Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationship that exists between people and plants. It is the study of plant resources by indigenous societies and includes plants used for food, timber, medicine and ceremony. Ethnomedicine is concerned with the indigenous uses of plants and plant products for medicine by the indigenous people in societies [4].