Phytochemical and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Analysis of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Cordia millenii

Abstract

Medicinal plants are known to possess phytochemical constituents which have been demonstrated by in-depth scientific research to be efficacious in the treatment and management of various diseases. The aim of the study was to identify and characterize the phytochemical and bioactive components present in the crude extract of Cordia millenii leaves. The air-dried leaves were pulverized and subjected to cold extraction for 72 hours. The filtrate was subsequently concentrated to yield an aqueous ethanolic crude extract. The crude extract was then subjected to both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening as well as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The phytochemical screening of the crude extract of C. millenii revealed the presence of total flavonoid content (60.71 ± 0.16%) and phenolic content (53.91 ± 0.11%) as most abundant compounds. Also, the GC-MS analysis revealed different types of high and low molecular weight chemical entities with varying quantities present in the extract. These chemical compounds are considered biologically and pharmacologically important, most notable were phytol (98%), hexadecanoic acid (93%) and vitamin E (90%). The present study provides critical evidence that the extract possesses major bioactive compounds that were identified and characterized spectroscopically, some of which have been implicated in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.