Phytochemical screening of coconut husk and potentials of its activated charcoal as a stomach acid adsorbent

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the active principles present and investigate if coconut husk charcoal used in traditional ulcer management adsorbs stomach acid (0.16 M). Simple chemical tests were undertaken to test for the phytochemicals. The coconut fiber charcoal was activated with 1M and 2M KOH and H2SO4 at 500 ℃ respectively in muffle furnace. Adsorption mechanism of stomach acid was studied by the adsorption of the acid onto an activated coconut husk charcoals. Adsorption which depends on contact time, amount of adsorbent and temperature is the transfer of stomach acid to the surface was determined by titrimetric method using 0.16 M NaOH and methyl red indicator. Five phytochemicals (alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, saponin and glycoside) were recorded present incoconut husk extracts. The result of adsorption mechanism revealed that KOH activated coconut husk charcoal is a better adsorbent than H2SO4 activated coconut husk charcoal. The optimum contact time (minutes) and amount (g) were found to be 15 minutes and 1g respectively. Temperature was found not to have any effect on the adsorption of stomach acid. The result of this study shows that KOH activated coconut husk charcoal can be effectively used in ulcer management. Keywords: Phytochemicals, coconut husk, activated charcoal, stomach acid, adsorption.