Pharmacognostic Evaluation of the Leaves of Baphia nitida G Lodd. (Fabaceae) Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

International audience Baphia nitida G Lodd, a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, is used in the management of skin diseases, inflammation, pains and malaria. The study aims to establish the pharmacognostic profile of a local plant species - Baphia nitida G Lodd (Fabaceae). The species is widely distributed in forests regions of coastal areas of Africa, including rainforests, secondary forests, and abandoned agricultural lands, ranging from sea level to an altitude of 600m. The plant has hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties (leaves and bark); hepatoprotective and anti-anaemic effect; antiplasmodial, analgesic and antidiarrhoeal activity. Fresh leaves of the plant were collected, identified, air-dried, pulverized and stored for analysis. Standard procedures were used to carry out microscopy, micromeritics, fluorescence properties, chemomicroscopy, moisture content, soluble extractive values and ash values. The plant was observed to possess paracytic stomata on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf and unicellular non-glandular trichomes on the transverse section and petiole of the leaf. The stomatal distribution of the leaf was observed to be amphistomatic with a stomatal index of 0.86 % for the adaxial surface and 12.31 % on the abaxial surface. It has an undulate epidermal cell wall pattern. The flow properties of the powdered leaf revealed an angle of repose of 36.42 °, Carr’s Index of 29.38 % and Hausner’s ratio of 1.4 suggesting significant interparticle friction. Chemomicroscopy revealed the presence of mucilage, cellulose, starch, and lignin in the leaf. Extractive values of water showing the highest extractive value of 15.33 % w/w, methanol of 13.67 % w/w and ethanol the lowest 10.67 % w/w. The moisture content of the leaf was found to be 8.7 % w/w, total ash value of 4.5 % w/w, acid-insoluble ash value of 0.5 % w/w and water-soluble ash value of 1.17 %w/w. The pharmacognostic parameters established in this studies will assist in the proper identification and quality control of B. nitida leaf, ensuring its efficacy and safety in medicinal use.