Pharmacognostic Evaluations of Leaves and Rootback of Lophira lanceolata Tiegh. Ex Keay (False Shea)

Objectives: The present study sought to establish quality control parameters of a locally and ubiquitously occurring medicinal plant, Lophira lanceolata which is utilized as folk medicine among the local communities in Northern Nigeria as well as other regions, due to its therapeutic indication mainly as an aphrodisiac, among other uses. Materials and Methods: Pharmacognostically, different types of evaluations were carried out that focuses on organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, chemical evaluations as well as heavy metal assessments using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Results: Organoleptic and macroscopic studies revealed some features of the leaves as green and oblanceolate, pinnate venation, with an average leaf size length and width of 14-15 and 4-5 cm respectively. The root has a light pale-brown outer surface and a reddish-brown inner surface. The outer surface was soft and dry while the inner surface was moist and smooth. Leaf microscopy indicated the presence of anisocytic or cruciferous type of stomata while both the rootbark and leaves are not devoid of common ergastic cell contents of calcium oxalate, lignin, starch, protein and tannin. Phytochemical evaluations revealed abundance of phytoconstituent that are richly phenolic of the types of saponin, tannin, triterpenoid, flavonoid, glycosides, diterpenoids, alkaloid, steroid, anthraquinones and phenols etc. Physicochemical evaluations showed a good source of mineral content of carbohydrate (35.93 ± 1.9199 for leaves and 33.58 ± 1.6791 for rootbark), Ash (9.33 ± 0.4714 for leaves and 7.17 ± 0.2358 for rootbark) in the plant. Heavy metal analysis of the leaves and rootbark investigated for Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Mercury showed that their concentrations were within the WHO (2002) permissible limits. Conclusion: This study provides the scientific data for the proper identification and establishment of standards for the use of the plant, Lophira lanceolata (False shea).