JAFE Vol. 4 (1): 75-86
Effects of Different Soil Textures on Early Propagation of Physic Nut (Jatrophacurcas L.)
Uwuigbe, E. U.
ABSTRACT
The study assessed the secondary metabolites of Pterocarpussantalinoides’ leaves, stem and roots in a completely randomized design (CRD) with seven treatments (alkaloids, saponin, tannin, flavonoid, oxalate, phytate and cytogenic glycosides) using extraction method replicated thrice, collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The aim of study was to analyse the species because of its popularity in some parts of Ogoniland; leaves are used as vegetable and herbal therapy in the treatment of some ailments, the wood is used in carving and joinery because of its fibre flexibility. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) between the secondary metabolites (SM) of root, wood and leaf particularly in alkaloids, saponin, flavonoid and no significant differences (P>0.05) in oxalate, phytate and cynogenicglycosides.The alkaloid was the same in leaf and wood (3.56%) and lowest in root bark while saponin was highest in wood (13.16%) followed by root bark (8%) and lowest in leaf. Tannin was absent in both the leaf and wood and little quantity in the root bark (1.05%), flavonoid was highest (17.92%) in root bark, followed by wood and lowest in leaf, oxalate was almost the same in leaf and wood -1.60 g/100g and 1.54 g/100g respectively and lowest in root bark (0.33g/100g); no phytate in the leaf and wood but had 0.0024g/100g while cynogenic glycosides was the same in axially; leaf to root bark (0.002mg/kg).Pterocarpussantalinoides has potentials in terms varieties of secondary metabolites for pharmaceutical and confectionery industries. Further studies on the species should be conducted on the phytochemicals and its potentials.
KEYWORDS: Jatrophacurcas, soil texture, propagation, germination, stem cuttings