Abstract

Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier (Combretaceae) has several medicinal uses, but with limited data on quality control parameters. Hence, this study was designed to help establish some quality control parameters that are useful for accurate identification, standardization, and the development of a monograph. Pharmacognostic evaluation was done using standard methods of analyses; while chromatographic profiling was done using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. Macroscopic examination revealed that the leaf is obovate, had obtuse apex, symmetrical base, entire margin, and smooth surface. Microscopical examination showed dorsiventral tissue arrangement, presence of anisocytic stomata, adaxial straight walled epidermal cell, abaxial slightly wavy epidermal cell wall and calcium oxalate crystals. Chemomicroscopy showed the presence of fixed oil, lignin, phenolics, proteins, cellulose and starch, in the powdered leaf. Proximate composition of the leaf was; moisture content (8.98%), total ash (7.40%), crude fat (7.41%), protein (31.07%), crude fiber (4.86%) and carbohydrate (40.28%). Elemental analysis revealed calcium as the most dominant mineral. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. GC – MS profiling identified twenty (20) bioactive constituents, with 9 – octadecanamide, undecane, 1 – undecene – 11 – nitro, tetradecanamide, and oxirane, being the most abundant. HPLC analysis detected twenty-three (23) compounds, of which quercetin, caryophyllene, gallic acid, corilagin, and casuarin, were dominant. In conclusion, essential herbal diagnostic markers for the authentication, quality assessment, and standardization of T. mantaly leaf have been provided. These data could be used for monograph development, for the leaf of T. mantaly