EVALUATING PHARMACOGNOSTIC PARAMETERS AND MUTAGENIC ACTIVITY OF KHAYA SENEGALENSIS (DESR.) A. JUSS.

The stem bark of Khaya senegalensis, known as mahogany is commonly sold on the Ghanaian market for the treatment of numerous ailments. To ensure its safe and efficacious use, there is a need to ensure that this plant material is of the best quality. Quality will involve ensuring its identity, purity and content are up to recommended standards by applying available and relevant methods. As a means to improve the safe use of the material, mutagenic studies were also conducted. This study sought to evaluate parameters that can be easily applied to evaluate the quality of the stem bark of K. senegalensis. Macroscopy, microscopy, physicochemical, and phytochemical investigations using fluore-scence and UV analysis were employed. Microscopic analysis of K. senegalensis leaf revealed the presence of calcium oxalate crystals, trichomes, stomata cells, and vein islets. Phytochemical screening of the stem bark showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenes. UV analysis displayed spectra that shift and change in absorbance on acidification and basification of the aqueous and ethanol extracts. Under UV light of short and long wavelengths, changes in fluorescing of the extracts were observed in various solvents. The characteristic macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical, and chemical parameters evaluated for K. senegalensis can be employed in the simple authentication and establishment of the quality of raw materials of this plant. This will improve the quality and hence efficacy of K. senegalensis when used for treating diseases and manufacturing medicines.