Physical And Phytochemicals Study Of Some Local Herbal Remedies

Herbal preparations have been used for an immemorial period for physiological and psychological well-being. Phytochemicals are attributable for such effects. The quality index of herbal remedies include among some parameters, phytochemicals, ash and moisture content. Analyses were carried out by ignition method to determine the moisture, ash value, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash of herbal remedies produced in Northern Nigeria with the aim to ascertain their quality. Also, standard methods were used to determine concentrations (g/100g) of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins and tannins. The moisture, ash value, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash showed range of 3.55-8.58, 3.9-43.92, 0.69-86.47 and 0.19- 30.75% respectively. All the samples have favourable values for the moisture, 27.59% of the total samples have their total ash content greater than 14% which is recommended value by European Pharmacopoeia maximum acceptable limit. The remedies contain the phytochemicals in the range of (0.011-7.06, 2.76-33.47, 0.025-1.305, 0.277-8.701 and 0.037-2.07) g/100g respectively. Most of the samples may be deemed qualitative based on these indices.