Medicinal plants are the first natural agents used traditionally to treat a wide range of illnesses, especially infectious diseases including malaria, diarrhea, fever, anaemia and colds especially in the rural areas. In this study, the calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa were investigated for their mineral composition, phyto constituents and oil components. Before extraction, twenty grammes (20g) of the powdered sample was analyzed for its mineral composition using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. The other part was extracted by cold maceration using methanol solvent. A portion of the concentrated extract obtained by rotary evaporator was investigated for phyto constituents using standard methods and procedures while the other portion was subjected to isolation by vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and characterization by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Mineral elements were detected with varying concentrations of K (19.51 %), Ca (20.49 %), Na (1.18%) and Mg (6.02%). Glycosides, flavoinoids, alkaloids and saponins were present except tannins and eugenols. The oil constituents detected as major compounds were hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) methyl ester (Retention time (Rt): 21.475, 42.97%) and 9,12-Octadecadienoic methyl ester (Rt: 23.581:24.40%). The findings of this study prove that H. Sabdariffa calyxes is composed of essential minerals necessary for body functions, useful bioactive substances required for physiological activities and saturated (palmitic acid) and unsaturated (linoleic acid) fatty acids necessary for human nutrition.
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42-51
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