Zenodo
Comparative assessment of caffeine concentrations in indigenous kola species: Implications for public health, food safety, and nutraceutical applications in sub-saharan africa
By Ochuko Johnbull Abeokuta, Philip chukwuemeziozor Igbodo, ENOO OJARIKRE and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) and kola nuts (Cola acuminata and Cola nitida) are native African plant products that hold significant cultural, medicinal, and economic relevance throughout West Africa. Although these plants are frequently consumed as stimulants and utilized in traditional medicine, there is a notable lack of general information concerning their caffeine content, particularly in the context of Nigeria.
Methods
This study determined and compared the caffeine levels in Cola acuminata, Cola nitida, and Garcinia kola sourced from Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria, using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry after solvent extraction and purification.
Results
The analytical approach confirmed strong linearity, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9803, suggesting its suitability for the quantitative analysis of caffeine in the selected plant samples. The findings revealed a considerable species-dependent variation in caffeine accumulation, with Cola acuminata exhibiting the highest concentration (11.23–11.49 mg/L; 21.78%–22.29%). This was followed by Cola nitida, which recorded a concentration of 8.39–8.49 mg/L (16.28%–16.47%), while Garcinia kola showed the lowest levels at 5.91–5.99 mg/L (11.47%–11.63%).