Phytochemical characterisation of selected herbal products in Lesotho

Abstract

Information on herbal products in Lesotho is lacking. The study characterised some herbal products found in Lesotho and compared herbalists' prescriptions with literature. FTIR spectroscopic scan of the herbal products was also done. Phytochemical screening of five powdered herbal products from the Lesotho Herbal Medicines Repository (LHMR) was done using qualitative and FTIR-spectroscopic standard methods. Phytochemical extraction of Euc/ea coriacea, Hypoxis hemerocalfidea, Xysmalobium undulatum, Senecio asperulus and Pelargonium sidoides was done using water, methanol and acetone as solvents. Euc/ea coriacea was found to contain diterpenes and phytosterols while Hypoxis hemerocallidea had diterpenes, flavonoids and phytosterols. Phytosterols, flavonoids, glycosides were detected in Senecio asperulus. Pelargonium sidoides and Xysmalobium undulatum contained glycosides and phytosterols respectively. Although all the herbal plants analysed were found to have medicinal properties, local herbalists' prescriptions of Euclea coriacea and Xysmalobium undulatum did not concur with literature. Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy of herbal plants indicated specific spectra which can be used to identify herbal plant components