DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF SOME TROPICAL TIMBERS INDIGENOUS TO NIGERDELTA AREA OF NIGERIA

Ejikeme, Chigozie and Ezeonu, Chukwuma S. and Eboatu, Augustine N. (2014) DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF SOME TROPICAL TIMBERS INDIGENOUS TO NIGERDELTA AREA OF NIGERIA. European Scientific Journal, 10 (18). pp. 247-270. ISSN 1857- 7431

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Abstract

Selected timbers indigenous to Niger delta area of Nigeria were identified and their physical properties and phytochemical constituent (qualitative and quantitative determination) check conducted. The result of the physical properties showed that: the highest porosity index was 1.75 % from Phyllanthus discoideus, the highest specific gravity recorded was 0.54 for Sacoglottis gabonensis, the highest charring temperature of 97-110 oC was recorded for Pycnanthus angolensis. Moisture contents of the range 16% in Cassipourea barteria was the lowest while 33 % was the highest in Bombax brevicuspe. All the timber samples were acidic with the exception of Glyphaea brevis which is neutral with a pH of 7.18. All the timbers were soluble in hot conc. H2SO4. Qualitative phytochemical studies showed that almost all the phytochemicals except phlobatannins are present in varied form in almost all the timber samples examined. Quantitative determination of the pytochemical constituents showed that: Cola laurifolia and Bridelia micrantha with contents of 1180mg/g and 1160mg/g had the highest tannin, while the least recorded was 620mg/100g found in Lovoa trichiliode, 80 % of the timber samples analysed had above 6 % of flavonoids in them, cynogenic glycoside recorded in each of the wood samples was less than 1000 mg/g with the highest contents of 891 mg/g, 859 mg/g and 810 mg/g found in Phyllanthus discoideus, Cassipourea barteri and Bridelia micrantha. Bridelia micrantha and Homalinum letestui with values of 5.84 g/100g and 5.34 g/100g respectively contain the highest quantity of oxalate, Phyllanthus discoideus and Rhizophora racemosa with values of 11.6 % and 12.2 % had the highest quantity of alkaloids and saponin respectively. These qualities possessed by the examined timbers shows that apart from their properties in building and other constructions, they are good sources for dye production, agro-chemicals and pharmaceuticals due to their phytochemical constituents.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Depositing User: miss ifeoma agbo
Date Deposited: 26 Apr 2019 09:13
Last Modified: 09 Oct 2019 12:03
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/1312

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