dc.description.abstract | Phytochemical constituents of 35 selected anticancer medicinal plant extracts were analyzed by thin layer
chromatography (TLC) for alkaloids, anthraquinones, xanthines, valepotriates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids,
essential oils, coumarins, lignans, saponins and arbutin compounds. These plants sourced from Kakamega tropical
rain forest have been previously reported to be used for cancer treatment in the Kakamega County, Kenya. The
medicinal plants investigated were Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex poir, Fuerstia africana T.C.E. Fr., Sida
rhombifolia L., Zanthoxylum rubescens Hook. f, Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill, Juniperus procera Endl., Tragia
brevipes Pax, Phyllanthus sapialis, Conyza sumatrensis, Momordica foetida Schumach., Synsepalum cerasiferum
Synonym: Afrosersalisia cerasifera (Welw.) Aubrev, Aloe volkensii Engl, Aeschynomene abyssinica (A. Rich.) Vatke,
Futumia africana Benth. Cyphostemma serpens (A. Rich), Ipomoea cairica (L.), Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.
ssp. nilotica (Seem), Abrus precatorius L. ssp africanus Verdc., Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq., Psydrax schimperiana
(A. Rich), Ficus thonningii, Rotheca myricoides (Hochst. Steane and Mabb), Croton macrostachyus Delile, Vernonia
lasiopus O Hoffin, Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gmel.), Zanthoxylum gilletii (De Wild.) P.G. Waterman, Microglossa pyrifolia
(Lam.) Kuntze, Senna didymobotyra (Fresen.) Irwin and Barneby, Trichilia emetica Vahl, Entada abyssinica Steud.ex
A.Rich., Shirakiopsis elliptica (Hochst.) Esser Synonym: Sapium ellipticum (Hochst.kraus) Pax, Ocimum gratissimum
L. Suave wiild O. tomentosum oliv., Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, Phyllanthus fischeri Pax and Olea hotch
spp. Hochstetteri. The phytochemical distribution in the 35 plants included: 71.4% alkaloids, 57.1% anthraquinones,
94.2% xanthines, 82.8% valepotriates, 94.2% cardioactive glycosides, 82.8% flavonoids, 77.1% essential oils, 85.7%
coumarin drugs, 68.5% lignans, 80% saponins and 62.85% arbutin drugs. Our findings provided evidence that crude
organic and inorganic solvent extracts of these tested plants contain medicinally important bioactive compounds and
provide a rational basis for their use in traditional medicine. | en_US |