Dendropanax arboreous: phytochemical study of trunk sap

Abstract

Nature has a great variety of chemical compounds from different origins, being the medicinal plants the most used by the population. In this paper we carried out a preliminary phytochemical study of the trunk sap of the specie Dendropanax arboreus (L) Decne & Planch, collected at Minas town, Baracoa, Guantánamo. Six extracts were prepared, which were obtained by two extraction methods: continuous extraction and maceration using different solvents of dissimilar polarity order. Extractive capacity of extraction methods was evaluated taking into account the values of total solids and the qualitative chemistry composition applying the phytochemical screening technique. The method with most extractive capacity was Soxhlet method, being water the selected solvent. Generally, we found the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, phenols, tannins, saponins, amines, amino acids, resins, reducing sugars, and polyuronides.