| Popis: |
The use of wood ash extracts as food additives and for medicinal purposes by Gbagyi people and other ethnic groups in the Middle-Belt Region of Nigeria, with dearth of information on its chemical constituents has remained a traditional practice. There is scarcity of information on the inorganic and organic composition and toxicity potentials of aqueous wood-ash extracts. This study reported the phytochemical parameters, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in aqueous wood ashes extracts of Azadirachta indica and Parkia biglobosa. The local method of ash extraction by Gbagyi people was used, using water and phytochemicals, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) screened and analysed by methods described by Eleazu et al. (2012), Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Gas Chromatography respectively. Alkaloids, Cardenolides, Cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates and terpenoid were present in both extracts, while saponins, tannins, sterols, quinones and amino acids were only present in P. biglobosa. Heavy metals; Cu (83.53 and 91.64), Pb (21.68 and 24.19), As (8.96 and 6.77), Cd (1.95 and 1.64), Zn (88.91 and 72.74), Ni (9.91 and 7.467) and Co (2.73 and 2.13) ppm were present in A. indica and P. biglobosa respectively, above standard limits. PAHS concentrations were so high in both extracts. An aqueous wood ash extracts of A. indica and P. biglobosa content toxic chemicals that could have deleterious effects on body organs or tissues and can compromise human health. |
