European Journal of Medicinal Plants

Background and Aims: Plant processing, the selected plant organ and the extraction method can influence the qualitative phytochemical profile obtained from medicinal plant material. This study compared fine powder and fibrous residue obtained from Annickia polycarpa, as well as the profiles of leaves, stems and roots of Alchornea cordifolia after different extraction procedures.

Methods: A mass-balance assessment was conducted for A. polycarpa. Qualitative tube tests were used to screen major secondary-metabolite groups in 20 g portions of the plant fractions and in 20 g portions of A. cordifolia organ powders. Aqueous maceration, infusion, decoction and hydroalcoholic extraction were compared for A. polycarpa; aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were compared across A. cordifolia organs. Maceration lasted 12 h and decoction lasted 30 min, as specified in this study.

Results: From 1,277 g of A. polycarpa material, 556 g of fine powder (43.54%) and 721 g of fibrous residue (56.46%) were obtained. Qualitative reactions for alkaloids were positive in all reported A. polycarpa preparations and were strongest (+++) in hydroalcoholic extracts. Other reactions varied with fraction and preparation method. In A. cordifolia, the profiles also varied among leaves, stems and roots and between aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts.

Conclusion: The fibrous residue constituted more than half of the processed A. polycarpa material and showed positive reactions for some phytochemical groups, supporting further characterisation rather than automatic disposal. The findings are qualitative and do not establish compound concentrations, therapeutic equivalence, efficacy or safety. Quantitative chemical analyses and biological and toxicological testing are needed.