Author(s)

Adedeji O. Adebiyi, Ayodele A. Oyedeji, Elijah E. Chikwendu, Olubunmi A. Fatoke

Department of Chemistry Education Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
Department of Plant Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

Chemical tests were carried out on the aqueous extracts of the air-dried powders of two tropical moss plants, Thidium gratum and Barbula indica using standard procedures, to identify the phytochemical constituents. The extracts were screened for the presence and quantities of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and steroids with a view to assess their therapeutic values in ethnomedicine. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and steroids in varying quantities in the two moss plants but there was absence of phenol in Barbula indica. These results suggest that the two moss plants can be veritable and potential source of useful drugs in treatment of ailments.

Phytochemical Constituents; Extracts; Moss Plants; Ethnomedicine; Ailments

A. Adebiyi, A. Oyedeji, E. Chikwendu and O. Fatoke, "Phytochemical Screening of Two Tropical Moss Plants: Thidium gratum P. Beauv and Barbula indica Brid Grown in Southwestern Ecological Zone of Nigeria," American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 3 No. 12, 2012, pp. 836-839. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2012.312110.