The phytochemical screening of the aqueous root extract of
Raphia hookeri
(Raffia palm) and its effect on plasma ethanol level in male rabbits were investigated. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids sterol/triterpenes and saponins in high concentrations. Cardiac ghycosides and alkaloids were detected in moderate amounts while cyanogenetic glycosides and deoxysugars were present in trace amounts. The extract was however devoid of reducing sugars, phlobatannins, chlorogenic acid and anthraquinone glycosides. Rabbits given root extract of
Raphia hookeri orally prior to ethanol adminstration were found to metabolize ethanol faster than the control. The metabolic clearnce rate (MCR) of the test animals was 12% higher than the control. This suggest the effect of the extract on ethanol clearance rate in Rabbits
