Ethnobotany and Phytochemical Composition of Alchornea cordifolia in Abia State Nigeria.

Objective: This study was carried out to document the medicinal values and therapeutic applications of different parts of A. cordifolia in Ekebedi Oboro ancient Kingdom of Abia State, Nigeria, and profile its bioactive constituents. Material-Method: The ethno-botanical survey involved questionnaires and oral interviews of 81 randomly selected traditional medicine doctors and natives on medicinal values of A. cordifolia. GC-MS fingerprinting was adopted to elucidate the bioactive constituents of the methanol leaf extract of the plant. Results: The survey showed that A. cordifolia is prescribed in different treatment regimens for coughs, bronchitis, postpartum bleeding, lacerations, wounds, vaginitis, diarrhea, sickle cell anemia, and venereal diseases, including gonorrhea, syphilis, and prostatitis. Phytochemical fingerprinting revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds as the major active ingredients of the plant. A total of 27 fatty acids and volatile hydrocarbons were detected in the leaf extract of the plant with 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)- methyl ester (18.42%), 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester (19.93%), Dodecanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetrieyl (15.87%) as most abundant ingredients. Conclusion: A. cordifolia is used to treat various diseases such as sickle cell anemia, diabetes, post-partum bleeding, and HIV infections amongst others. The fatty acids identified in A. cordifolia possibly underscored these antimicrobial and therapeutic actions of the plant in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]