Taxonomic Implications of Flavonoids and Steroids in the Species of Stachytarpheta Present in Awka, Nigeria

The flavonoids and steroids content of the three Stachytarpheta species present in Awka, South East Nigeria was tested so as to establish taxonomic evidence between these species. Standard phytochemical methods were used in this analysis. The result however, revealed the presence of steroids and flavonoids in all parts of the three Stachytarphetaspecies, thus, a reason for their placement in the same family. On the other hand, the presence of steroids was also tested. S. cayannensis confirmed the presence of steroids in all the parts of the plant. Hence, steroids was absent in all the parts of S.jamaicensis andS.angustifolia, this however, can be used to delimit S.cayannensis from the two otherStachytarpheta species tested. This result obtained from the quantitative analyses of these species may proffer a significant taxonomic solution in the placement of these Stachytarphetaspecies.