Phytochemical Profile and Some Heavy Metals Analysis of Lasiantheraafricana Leaves and Stem

The Phytochemical profile and some heavy metals in Lasianthera Africana leave and stem found in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria wasanalysed. Lasianthera Africana is widely used in traditional medicine and for human consumption. The results of phytochemical screening showed the presence of Saponin, Terpenoid, Alkaloid, Combine sugar, Reducing sugar in both the leave and stem while Anthraquinone is absent in leave and stem. Analysis of heavy metals showed the following concentrations in leaves; Cd 0.03± 0.002mg/kg, Cu 1.75± 0.2mg/kg and Zn 1.21± 0.3mg/kg while the stem showed, Cd 0.029± 0.001mg/kg, Cu 1.68± 0.1mg/kg and Zn 1.20± 0.1mg/kg, but Pb is less than detectable limit of AAS in both the stem and leave. Comparison of heavy metals with (FAO, 1984) maximum limit of trace metal in vegetable showed that Cd and Cu are above the level which may be as a result of some human activities or pollution source around the areas where the plant is cultivated.