Comparative Phytochemical and FTIR Evaluation of Morinda lucida Leaves from Two Locations within the University of Ibadan

Morinda lucida is widely used in African traditional medicine; however, variability in its phytochemical composition may affect its medicinal quality. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical profile and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) characteristics of M. lucida leaves obtained from two locations within the University of Ibadan: Animal House, near the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, and Teaching and Research Farm. The solvent extracts, obtained by macerating pulverized dried leaves with chloroform and acetone, were evaluated using phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Comparisons were made between the datasets. Phytochemical screening revealed more variations in the phytochemical composition of the acetone extracts of both samples compared with the chloroform extracts. The infrared spectra of chloroform extracts appeared to match closely; however, noticeable variations in the spectra of acetone extracts. The results indicated possible variations in the phytochemical composition of M. lucida (leaves) collected from the same geographical locations. This emphasizes the need for enhanced standardization protocols and quality assurance of M. lucida morphological parts used for herbal formulations, even within the same geographic area.