HPLC-BASED DETERMINATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES IN VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DELILE FROM TWO AGROECOLOGIES IN NIGERIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the metabolic and compositional diversity of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) collected from guinea and Sudan savanna ecological zones, covering seven Nigeria states namely; Oyo, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Taraba, and Plateau using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique. We aimed to compare chromatographic fingerprints on the plant's secondary metabolite compositions. Fresh leaf samples were processed through methanolic extraction, followed by chromatographic separation and analysis to determine retention times, peak intensities. The results revealed both shared and regionally distinct phytochemical markers across the studied locations. Peaks around 1.96-1.99 minutes and 18.819.0 minutes were consistently observed across all states, indicating core bioactive compounds that defined the phytochemical identity of Vernonia amygdalina. However, unique retention peaks were observed (1.318 minutes & 6.915 minutes) in Taraba and Oyo states respectively. These might indicate geographical variations attributed to differences in soil type, altitude, and climate. The study concluded that V. amygdalina possesses a stable phytochemical baseline across Nigeria, with measurable regional variations that may affect its pharmacological potency and nutritional quality. These differences underscore the importance of geographical source verification in herbal drug formulation and standardization. It is recommended that future studies integrate advanced techniques such as LC-MS/MS and chemometric modeling to identify specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed peaks. Additionally, we recommended the establishment of a national phytochemical database for medicinal plants to enhance consistency in quality control, encourage sustainable cultivation, thereby improving Nigeria's contribution to global phytopharmaceutical research.
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