Chemotaxonomic Characteristics of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) Danser of Loranthaceae Collected from University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Tapinanthus bangwensis commonly known as mistletoe, is a hemi parasitic shrub of Loranthaceae, and the native range is West Tropical Africa to Chad; used in tradomedicine to remedy various ailments in Nigeria. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the chemotaxonomic characteristics of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engl. & K. Krause) Danser of Loranthaceae collected from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Results of anatomy revealed 4 to 5 rows of collenchyma at hypodermis, parenchyma domiciled in the ground tissues, vascular sclerenchyma present especially in vascular system. In the phytochemistry, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids were present while terpenoids absent. These information would assist for further delimitation of the species.

Keywords

• Tapinanthus bangwensis; Loranthaceae; Morphology; Anatomy; phytochemistry