Comparative Phytochemical Analysis of Uvaria chamae Leaves and Roots: Medicinal and Nutritional Implications

Abstract

Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae) is a medicinal plant widely utilized in African traditional medicine for its therapeutic and nutritional benefits. This study conducted a quantitative–comparative phytochemical analysis of the leaves and roots of Uvaria chamae to evaluate their bioactive composition and potential health implications. Validated classical gravimetric and titrimetric assays were employed, and results were expressed as mean ± SEM. Key phytochemicals identified included tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, oxalate, and phytate. The leaves contained significantly higher concentrations of tannins (2.70 ± 0.12%), flavonoids (8.30 ± 0.15%), alkaloids (4.40 ± 0.09%), and cardiac glycosides (9.00 ± 0.20%) compared with the roots (1.07 ± 0.08%, 3.90 ± 0.10%, 2.40 ± 0.06%, and 4.00 ± 0.18%, respectively) (p < 0.05–0.01). Although saponin and phytate levels showed no significant difference, the roots exhibited slightly higher phytate content (0.12 ± 0.02%) than the leaves (0.07 ± 0.01%). Both plant parts contained similar oxalate concentrations (0.054 ± 0.002%). These variations suggest differential metabolic roles between plant organs and indicate the potential therapeutic relevance of the leaves, which warrants further pharmacological and toxicological validation. The relatively low phytate and oxalate contents also imply favorable nutritional safety. Overall, this study highlights the phytochemical diversity of Uvaria chamae, emphasizing its promise as a source of bioactive compounds for herbal medicine and functional food development.