Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Profiling of Selected Medicinal Plants: Emilia sonchifolia, Bridelia ferruginea, and Rhizophora racemosa

Abstract

Medicinal plants remain a vital source of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential, particularly in regions where traditional medicine is widely practiced. This study aimed to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition of aqueous extracts of Emilia sonchifolia leaves, Bridelia ferruginea leaves, and Rhizophora racemosa stem bark in order to provide scientific evidence supporting their ethnomedicinal uses. Standard phytochemical screening methods were employed to identify major classes of secondary metabolites, while spectrophotometric and gravimetric techniques were used for quantitative determination of total phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of key phytochemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and proteins across the three plant species, with notable variations in their distribution. Quantitative results showed that E. sonchifolia possessed the highest levels of total phenolics (166.07 ± 1.88 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (287.18 ± 8.42 mg QE/g), indicating strong antioxidant potential. R. racemosa exhibited the highest concentrations of saponins (133.75 ± 1.34 mg/100 g), tannins (212.36 ± 3.40 mg GAE/g), and alkaloids (126.78 ± 1.39 mg AE/g), suggesting potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. B. ferruginea demonstrated moderate but balanced levels of phytochemicals, particularly alkaloids and carbohydrates, supporting its combined nutritional and medicinal relevance. Overall, the study highlights significant interspecies variation in phytochemical composition, which may influence the biological activities and therapeutic applications of these plants. The findings provide a scientific basis for their traditional uses and underscore their potential as sources of natural bioactive compounds. Further studies focusing on the isolation, characterization, and pharmacological evaluation of individual constituents are recommended to fully explore their medicinal potential.