The current available economic tree species in natural and urban forests are rapidly decreasing at the rate that needs urgent attention. This is mostly occurring because many natural plant potentials are yet to be discovered while food insecurity is heightening daily in many developing countries. Cola millenii K. Schum. is an important agroforestry plant which has been utilized in traditional medicines for various sickness remedies in different parts of Nigeria. Often time, parts such as leaves, barks and fruit components are utilized as a conglomerate for the treatment of diseases without the adequate knowledge of their phytochemical concentration, which is a measure of the medicinal efficacy. Plant growth stage has been reported to affect the phytochemical component in some medicinal plants, however, such information is scarce for C. millenii. This study, therefore, evaluated the phytochemical constituents of Cola millenii to provide the information required for its utilization and sustainability.

Samples were collected from different parts of mother and young C. millenii found in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Plant samples were analyzed for saponin, flavonoid, tannin, alkaloid, anthraquinone, terpenoid and steroid following a standard method. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results show that age and plant part significantly (p<0.05) influenced the presence of some analyzed phytochemicals. Flavonoid was the most concentrated phytochemical in the fruit of C. millenii with the highest value in epicarp (1.54 mg/100kg). None of the phytochemicals was found in the leaves of the plant.

Plant parts and age play important role in the concentration of phytochemicals in C. Millenii. Therefore, with the multipurpose benefits derived from C. millenii, incorporating it in agroforestry systems, where there will be limited deforestation by the farmers as tree component would be an alternative way to conserve it for posterity purpose.