Phytochemical, FTIR and Elemental Studies of African Mistlotoe (Viscun album) Leaves on Cola nitida from South-Eastern Nigeria

In the recent time there is an increase in the use of medicinal plants for treatment of ailments. This is owning to availability and low cost of herbal materials, which has increased the use of plants such as Viscum album for medicinal purposes. These plants may contain mineral elements, important phytochemicals and functional groups for healthy leaving, but increased use of this plant could lead to magnification of the mineral elements. Therefore, leaves of mistletoe (Viscum album) harvested from kola nut tree (Cola nitida) in Imo state, South Eastern Nigeria was studied. The study was aimed at determining the elemental content, phytochemicals as well as Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) analysis of petroleum ether and chloroform extract of Viscum album harvested from Cola nitida. The sample for elemental analysis was digested with mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and perchloric acid (HClO4). Petroleum ether and chloroform were used as solvents to extract the sample used for phytochemical and FTIR analysis. Elemental content analysis indicates that Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn were present at varying concentrations. The elemental content is in the order Fe > Mn > Cu > Mg >Zn > Cr > Ca. The presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins and tannins were confirmed by the phytochemical screening. FTIR analysis indicates that alcohols, amides, aromatics and carbonyl compounds are present in the chloroform and petroleum ether extract of Viscum album harvested from cola nitida, though at different intensities. The presence of some essential minerals as well as some phytochemicals and some important functional groups must have necessitated the use of this plant for medicinal purposes.