Phytochemical Analysis of Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola)

Abstract

This study involved the determination of the chemical composition of Garcinia kola using standard methods. To determine the presence of some of the biologically active compounds that are present in the seed of Garcinia using distilled water and n-hexane. Alkaloids, anthraquinones, Tannins, Phlobatannins, flavonoids and Glycoside were found to be present when tested with distilled water. However, when tested with n-hexane Tannins and Glycoside were found to be present. The observed active compound of the extract of Biter Kola proved why Biter Kola is used in traditional medicine. Bitter kola was observed to be used for so many health benefits, like in the treatments of malaria, weight loss, diabetes, and treatment of glaucoma among others. Bitter kola should be sold in pharmaceutical processing factories, cosmetics, agricultural and food industries.