Oil extracts from the African oil bean seed (PentaclethramacrophyllaBenth.) was
analyzed for its phytochemical and mineral content and proximate, physicochemical and antimicrobial
analyses were also performed. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of
tannins, saponins, quinones, terpenoids, phenols and coumarins in the oil sample. Mineral
determination of the cotyledon showed the presence of iron (Fe) (with the highest
concentration), Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cd; while proximate analysis gave the following result:
moisture (14.2%), ash content (1.5%), crude fibre (4.9%), crude proteins (12.8%), oil contents
(4.9%), and carbohydrate (61.8%). GC-MS analysis of the partitioned petroleum ether and
chloroform fractions of the oil revealed the presence of 9-Octadecenoic acid, 9,12-
Octadecadienoic acid and their methyl esters,cis-9-Hexadecenal among the many components
of the oil extract. Physicochemical analysis of the oil indicateda saponification value (148.67
mg KOH/g), peroxide value(8.0 meq/g), iodine value (10.41 mg iodine/g) and free fatty acid
(8.98 mg KOH/g). The need for the development of new drugs for malaria led to our study of
the antiplasmodial activity of the oil from the seeds of Pentaclethramacrophylla. Toxicological
studies were carried out to determine the LD50with chloroquinediphosphate as positive control
and normal saline as negative control. Using the Peter’s 4 day suppressive test a parasite
inhibition rate of 47.72% (25 mg/kg), 63.63% (50 mg/kg) and 61.36% (100 mg/kg) on day 4
after treatment was recorded. A 95.45% chemo-suppression was observed for animals treated
with 10 mg/kg chloroquine. This resultis an indication that the extract had appreciable signs of
chemosuppression
