Abstract

*Murutala Adu, Wole Achebe and Shehu Abubakar

The aim of this study seeks to investigate the presence of steroids, triterpenes, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones and flavonoids compounds as the possible agent responsible for the medicinal activities of the leaf of the plant Paullinia pinnata and also to carry out phytochemical screening of the dried leaf of the plant, to extract and fractionate the leaf and finally to carry out thin layer chromatography of the different fractions. In the phytochemical investigation of the plant, the powdered leaves was tested positive for steroids, triterpenes, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones and flavonoids. The presence of the constituents was also found to be similar to those reported for most medicinal plants. In East Africa, the leaves are used against snake bites, rabies, mental problems, blindness and eye troubles, together with the roots, against gonorrhoea, paralysis, wounds, threatened abortion, malaria, ancylostomiasis, and to expel placenta. Roots are applied against eczema, as a tonic and as a styptic medicine.