Comparative analysis of methanolic and aqueous extracts of four medicinal plants in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicinal plants play a significant role in healthcare practices in Sierra Leone. However, the choice of solvent in extracting phytochemicals can greatly influence the yield and diversity of bioactive compounds. This study investigates the comparative extraction efficiency of methanol and water from four medicinal plants-Moringa oleifera, Senna siamea, Cassia sieberiana, and Nauclea latifolia. Methods: Leaves from the four plants were subjected to cold maceration using methanol and distilled water as solvents. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the presence of major phytochemical classes including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and phenolics. Results: Methanolic extracts showed a richer and broader spectrum of phytochemicals than their aqueous counterparts. Particularly, methanol was more efficient in extracting flavonoids and terpenoids, compounds known for antiplasmodial and antioxidant properties. Aqueous extracts, although traditionally favored, exhibited limited phytochemical diversity. Conclusion: Methanol is a more effective solvent than water for extracting a wide range of bioactive compounds from the selected medicinal plants. These findings emphasize the importance of solvent selection in phytochemical and pharmacological research. Nevertheless, considering the traditional use of aqueous preparations, further studies involving bioactivity assays are needed to correlate solvent-based differences with therapeutic efficacy.