QUALITY CONTROL PARAMETERS OF Psychotria fractistipula L.B. Sm., Klein & Delprete (RUBIACEAE): LOSS ON DRYING, TOTAL ASH AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING.

Medicinal plants are used by 80% of the population in developing countries, generating an income of 22 billion dollars a year. Humidity, ash and phytochemical screening analysis are essential for the characterization and identification of plant species in the quality control process. The Psychotria fractistipula species has no popular use, but there is interest in species of the genus since they have hallucinogenic alkaloids in their composition. A pharmacognosy study was conducted since only a few studies of the species were found in the literature. The study demonstrated that the Psychotria fractistipula leaves and stems contains 12.53% and 9.43% humidity, respectively, whilst the ash content of the leaves was 9.43%, and the stems ash content was 4.06%. Phytochemical screening analysis performed in thin layer chromatography showed that the species presented in its composition flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids and triterpenes present in both their stems and leaves.