132 Global Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, 1(1): 132-135, 2013 ISSN 2074-0883  

Corresponding Author: Ekanem B.E., Department of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State, Polytechnic Ikot-Osurua, Nigeria.

E-mail: agborreagan@yahoo.com phone: 08063430125

Hytochemical Composition of Caladium Species 1,2Ekanem B.E., 2Osuagwu A.N., 2P. Aikpopodion, 2Ekpo I.A., 2Agbor R.B. and 2Ibiang, Y.B.

1Department of Science Technology, Akwa Ibom State, Polytechnic Ikot-Osurua, Nigeria. 2Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. ABSTRACT The phytochemical properties of caladium species were evaluated in this study. Phytochemicals were done on the stem, leaves, bulbs and roots of the plant. The result shows that significant difference (p<0.05) exist between the various plant part in the level of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, Limonoids, polyphenols, oxalate, cyanides, terpenes, carotenoids, lactones, and xanthophils. The result also indicates that these phytochemical constituent were of significant amount in the leaves than other plant part. From the result of this study it can be concluded that the leaves of the caladium species due to the high level of flavoniod, alkaloids and saponins which could be used in modern medicine to cure cancer and other related illness. Key words: Phytochemical properties, Caladium species Introduction Caladium is an ornamental foliage plant grown from tubers and planted extensively in landscape, especially in the southeastern U.S.A. Caladium is indigenous to South and Central America and belongs to the family Araceace. In Nigeria most especially Calabar and Akwa Ibom State different types and species of caladium are found on road site, school premises and in farm lands. The colouration of this plant makes the environment in which it is found beautiful and adoring. The ornamental value of caladium use as pot or landscape plants is determined primarily by leaf characteristics. Improving leaf characteristics or generating new combinations of them has been one of the most important objectives in caladium breeding and cultivar development (Wilfret, 1993). Wild plants could grow in open areas of the forest to a height of 40-90cm, with leaves 15-45cm long and broad. Leaves are borne on petioles 15-30.5cm long. Members of the Genus Caladium are vascular terrestrial monocots with tuberous underground rhizomes, elongated petioles, and usually peltate or sagitlate leaves. Flowers are unisexual and naked. Staminate flowers have 3-5 stamens while pistillate flowers have 2-3 celled ovaries. They produce berry fruits with several small ovoid seeds. Most Caladium varieties prefer fertile, moist, but well drained soils in partially or fully shaded places. Sun loving varieties abound as well. Species identification is from the leaf blades which possess various patterns of pink and white spots. Leaf is mostly heart, lance or arrowhead shape. Cultivar development in caladium has a history of some 150 years (Hayward, 1950). However, about 51 cultivars of caladium have gone to extinction due to lack of conservation. For instance in 1970 only 141 cultivars were listed in exotica (Graf, 1970). But a recent survey of the florida tuber producers in 1998 (Bell et al., 1998) and in 2003 (Deng et al., 2005c). Caladium species are neotropical plants, primarily propagated asexually and prone to mutate in-vitro (Chu and Yazawa, 2001). Maintaining many cultivars in-vivo and in-vitro will be costly. One option might be to maintain a core collection of cultivars for future breeding purposes. Caladium contains oxalate crystals which can cause illness and swelling of the mouth and throat. The extract of the leaves and stem bark of Morinda lucida (Benth) has been recommended for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and its cerebral complications (Iwu, 1993). Gbadamosi et al (2011) investigated the phytochemical screening and proximate analysis of eight ethnobotanical is used as antimalaria remedies, they reported that all the test plants contained cardiac glycosides in varying concentrations. P guineense and A. melegueta tested negative for saponins. P.guineese showed substantially high content of crude protein whereas A. digitata contained substantially high crude fibre. Aja et al., 2010 reported on the qualitative and quantitative analyses of Talinum triangular (water leaf) leaf and found out that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of bioactive compounds. Ekeanyawu et al., 2010 reported on the biochemical characteristics of the African nutmeg, Monodora myristica. The results revealed the presence of glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoid, saponins, tannins, steroids, oxalates and phytates. The result suggests that the African nutmeg is relatively safe for consumption. There has been paucity of information on the phytochemical composition of Caladium, hence the relevance of this work.

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134 Glob. J. Med. Plant Res., 1(1): 132-135, 2013

 

 

Results and Discussion The result of the quantitative phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of saponins, flavonoids, limonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, Carotenoids, lactones, xanthophs, oxalate, cyanide and terpenes but it was also observed that Hirsunthinloids was absent in all the plant samples. Table 1: Quantitative Phytochemical screening of three species of Caladium

Species Plant part

Saponins (%)

Flavonoids (%)

Limonoids (%)

Polyphenols (%)

Alkaloids (%)

Hirsunthinloids (%)

Carotenoids (%)

Lactones (%)

Xanthophils (%)

Oxalate (%)

Cyanide (%)

Terpenes (%)

Caladium ornamental

Leaves 6.00c±1.05 8.75g±1.20 2.44d±0.04 12.36g±2.90 1.35c±0.10 ND 7.85f±0.14 2.5c±0.23 6.5c±1.04 1.22b±0.02 0.16a±0.01 1.29b±0.21

Stem 6.52c±0.90 8.44f±1.03 1.95c±0.02 8.00e±1.98 1.05b±0.02 ND 5.50d±0.12 2.0b±0.20 6.0c±1.00 1.09a±0.01 0.19a±0.01 1.27b±0.11 Bulb 26.00e±3.24 2.50c±0.01 1.00b±0.01 2.65b±0.14 1.50b±0.01 ND 1.60b±0.11 2.50c±0.24 2.2b±0.34 0.92a±0.01 0.28d±0.01 0.88a±0.01 Roots 6.75c±1.00 0.62a±0.01 - 1.20a±0.02 0.70a±0.01 ND 0.50a±0.01 2.4c±0.01 2.0a±0.02 0.91a±0.01 0.29d±0.01 0.72a±0.01

Caladium bicolor

Leaves 2.3a±0.56 7.20e±0.87 1.80b±0.03 8.44e±1.20 1.22b±0.10 ND 9.50g±0.02 2.0b±0.21 8.50e±1.23 1.48d±.021 0.20b±0.01 1.41c±0.12

Stem 2.0a±0.20 6.40d±1.23 2.50d±0.01 6.90d±1.05 1.20b±0.11 ND 6.50d±0.78 2.0b±0.02 8.0e±1.04 1.31c±0.11 0.24c±0.01 1.29b±0.13 Bulb 9.4d±1.03 1.20b±0.02 1.62b±0.01 5.60c±1.01 1.00a±0.01 ND 2.50c±0.0.03 2.5c±0.01 3.4b±0.23 1.14b±0.10 0.46f±0.01 0.92a±0.01 Roots 3.5c±0.67 1.20b±0.01 0.50a±0.01 1.67a±0.09 0.50a±0.01 ND 1.20b±0.11 2.4c±0.03 3.0b±0.12 1.12b±0.05 0.51g±0.01 0.89a±0.03

Caladium variegatum

Leaves 4.0b±0.08 9.22g±0.91 2.00c±0.11 10.50f±2.09 1.50c±0.03 ND 8.75f±1.23 1.8a±0.20 8.14e±1.20 1.47d±0.02 0.19a±0.01 1.35c±.14

Stem 3.5b±0.32 8.50f±0.23 2.00c±0.10 8.00e±1.23 1.40b±0.02 ND 6.70e±1.40 1.8a±0.04 7.65d±1.10 1.38c±0.20 0.22b±0.01 1.25b±0.23 Bulb 6.5c±1.23 2.45c±0.03 2.00c±0.12 6.50d±0.15 1.40b±0.01 ND 3.00c±1.21 2.0b±0.01 2.90b±0.21 1.22b±0.31 0.39e±0.01 0.91a±0.01 Roots 2.5a±0.11 1.40b±0.01 1.00b±0.01 2.00a±0.05 1.00a±0.10 ND 1.50b±0.90 1.8a±0.03 2.50a±0.11 1.19b±0.11 0.44f±0.01 0.90a±0.01 Mean followed with the same superscript along each vertical array indicate no significant difference (p > 0.05)

Polyphenols in the forms of antraquinones and tannins were also tested in the caladium species. It was observed that the polyphenols content of the leaf, stem, bulbs and roots of the three caladium sp shows significant difference (p<0.05), thus the polyphenol content in Caladium bicolor was significantly higher than that of Caladium ornamental and C.variegatum. It was also observed from the result that the leaves in the three Caladium sp was significantly higher (p<0.05) in polyphenols than that of the stem, bulbs and root of the plants. Saponins are found in many plants and animals. It has been reported by several researchers that saponins are found extensively in many phytochemical study. This study also detected the presence of saponin. The result as obtained shows that they were significant differences (p<0.05) in the three caladium species with Caladium ornamental having more saponins than Caladium bicolor and C. variegatum that shows no significant variation in the saponin content. It was also observed that the saponin in the bulb was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the leaves, stem and roots that shows no significant differences (p<0.05). Saponins are glycosides of both triterpene and steroids having hypertensive and cardiodepressant properties (Olaleye 2007). Flavonoids inhibit tumor cell growth and can activate important detoxifying enzymes. The result obtained in these study shows that they were significant difference (p<0.05) in the flavonoids content of the three caladium species. C. variegatum contain the highest flavonoid follow by C. ornamental and then C. bicolor. It was also observed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the flavonoid content of the plant. The leaves of the plant have more of the flavonoid than the stem, bulbs and root of the plant. Epidemiological studies have shown that flavonoids and Carotenoids intake are inversely related to mortality from coronary heart diseases and the incidence of heart attacks (Donald and Cristobal, 2006). The result for the carotenoids shows that C. variegatum and C. bicolor shows no significant differences (p>0.05) in the carotenoid content but significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the C. ornamental which has lower carotenoids content as compared with the C. variegatum and C. bicolor. Significant difference (p<0.05) were also observed in the carotenoid content of the leaves, stem, bulb and roots of the caladium spp. However, the leaves were also significantly high in carotenoid followed by the stem, bulb and roots respectively. Limonoids are phytochemicals, abundant in citrus fruit and other plants of the families Rutaceae and Meliaceae. Limonoids can prevent tumorogenesis and development of cancer cells. Limonoids are natural compounds that create the slightly bitter taste in some fruits including oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits. It was observed in Table 1 that they were significant difference (p<0.05) in the limonoid content in the three caladium sp. The result shows that C. variegatum has more limonoids content followed by C. bicolor and then C. ornamental. It was also observed that the limonoids content of the stem of caladium was significantly higher than that of the leaves, bulb and roots respectively. The result obtained shows that they were significant difference (p<0.05) in the alkaloids content of the plants. It was observed that C. variegatum has more alkaloid, followed by C. ornamental and then C. bicolor. It was also observed that the leaves of caladium has more alkaloid than the bulbs, stem and roots. Alkaloids have been used as CNS stimulant, topical anaesthetic in ophthalmogy, powerful pain relievers, antipuretic action, among other uses (Heikens et al., 1995). The result shows that C. ornamental and C. bicolor has significantly high (p<0.05) lactones content, with no significant difference (p>0.05) among the species but C. variegatum has the lowest lactone content. It was also observed that the bulbs of the caladium species possesses significantly higher (p<0.05) lactones content than the leaves, stem and root. The result obtained shows significant difference (p<0.05) in the three species of caladium. The xanthophils of C. bicolor was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of C. variegatum and C. ornamental respectively. It was also observed that the leaves of the plant contain significantly higher (p<0.05) xanthophils than the stem, bulb and roots of caladium spp. The result obtained shows that they were significant difference

135 Glob. J. Med. Plant Res., 1(1): 132-135, 2013

 

 

(p<0.05) in the oxalates content of the three species of caladium, C. variegatum contains more oxalates than C. bicolor and C. ornamental respectively. It was also observed that the leaves of the plant was significantly high (p< 0.05) in oxalate than the stem, bulb and roots respectively. No Significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the terpenes content of the three caladium species. This implies that the three species possesses equal amount of terpenes. It was also observed that the leaves contain more terpenes than the stem but no significant difference (p>0.05) were observed between the terpenes content in the bulb and root. It was observed that they were significant difference (p<0.05) in the three caladium species. C. bicolor has high cyanide content than C. variegatum and C. ornamental respectively. Significant difference (p<0.05) were also observed in the leave, stem, bulbs and roots of the plants. The roots possess more cyanide content than the bulb, stem and leaves respectively. The presences of these biochemical components in Caladium species suggest that they can be used in modern medicine to combat cancer. References Aja, P.M., A.N.C. Okaka, P.N. Onu, U. Ibiam and A.J. Urako, 2010. Phytochemical composition of Talinum

Traingulare (water leaf) leaves. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 9(6): 527-530. Bell, M.L., G.J. Wilfret and D.A. DeVoll, 1998. Survey of caladium tuber producers for acreage of cultivars

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Deng, Z., B.K. Harbaugh, R.O. Kelly, T. Seijo, R.J. McGovern, 2005b. Screening for resistance to pythium root rot among twenty-three caladium cultivars. Hort Technology, 15: 631-634.

Donald, R.B. and M. Cristobal, 2006. Antioxidant ativities of Flavonoids, J. Agric., 52: 125-757. Graf, A.B., 1970. Exotica (Roehrs, East Rutherford, N.J), 3rd ed. Hayward, W., 1950. Fancy-leaved caladiums. Plant Life, 6: 131-142. Heikens, H., E. Fliers, E. Endert, M. Ackermans and G. Vanmontfrans, 1995. Liquorice-induced hypertension a

new understanding of an old disease: J. Medicine, 5: 230-234. Iwu, M.M., 1993. Handbook of African medicinal plants. CRC press Bocca Raton Ann Arbor, London. Tokyo,

pp: 110-190. Olaleye, M.T., 2007. “Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa,”

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