Abstract

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA AQUEOUS LEAVES EXTRACT ON TOPICAL FORMULATIONS

Ordu John I.* and Okoye Ujunwa Stephaanie

ABSTRACT

The local use of herbs for medicinal purposes has been in practice hence the aqueous leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata plant was subjected to phytochemical screening to identify bioactive agents and minerals as well as antibacterial and in vitro antioxidant effects which could be correlated to the implications as anti-infective and wound healing substance evidenced in it’s long aged traditional medicine applications. From phytochemical and proximate analysis, the plant extract was found to contain such compounds as: alkaloids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinone, steroids, triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds, carbohydrate, protein. While mineral analysis in 100g of sample showed the richness of leaves in calcium (487.40mg/100g), sodium (44.22mg, potassium (96.91mg), magnesium (116.70mg), zinc (3.77mg), iron (67.71mg) and phosphate (143.15mg). The extracts had a pungent aromatic odour, pH of 7.8,
non-greasy, easily dispersible in aqueous medium with a density of 1.213, boiling point of 96-98OC and has anti- microbial effect on susceptible organisms such as: B. subtilis (8.327±0.58), S. aureus (10.00±0.00) and S. typhyninium (9.00±0.00) compared to ampicillin with no observed inhibitory effect on B. subtilis, but has effect on S. aureus (40±0.00) and S. typhyrinium (27.09±4.40). C. odorata leaves extract from the study have potential for development of therapeutically active compounds which could serve as precursor for the design of potent and safe pharmaceutical/cosmetic product.

Keywords: Excipient, Aqueous extract, Chromolaena odorata, phytochemistry.