Chemical and Medicinal Properties of Spondias Mombim (Linn) Leaf Harvested From the South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Spondia Mombin Linn is a very important medicinal plant used in the sourth eastern Nigeria for the treatment of various ailment , Initial phytochemical analysis of the leaf revealed the presence of alkaloids 2.2%, flavonoids 1.34%, saponins 3.73%, tannins 2.4%, cardiac glycosides and steroids .The antimicrobial analysis against certain selected human pathogens revealed activities against Staphylococus aureus by a diameter of 35mm, Streptococcus specie 30mm ,Aspergillis niger 18mm and Mucor specie 19mm but could not inhibit the growth of Klebsiella specie and Pseudomonas aeruginosa .GC-MS of the chloroform extract was carried out with SHIMAZU Japan Gas Chromatography 5890-11 with a fused GC column OV 101coated with polymethyl silicon (0.25 mm x 50 m) and Gas chromatography Mass spectrum GC-MS QP 2010 Plus Shimazu Japan, showed that the leaf extract contained 26 compounds: Stigmast-4-en-3-one C29H48O, lupeol C30H50O, tetracontane C29H50O , Heptacosane C44H90, Vitamin E C29H56 , γ-TocopherolC29H50O2, 2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol C28H48O2 ,heptacosane C27H46O, Squalene C27H56 ,methyl [2] 5,11,14,17 eicosatetraenoate C30H501,2-Benzene dicarboxylic acid bisoctylester C24H38O4, Phenol-3 pentadecyl C21H36O,Octadecanoic acid C18H36O2,. 9,12-Octadecadienoylchloride[z,z] C18H31ClO. Phytol C20H40O, n-Hexadecanoic acid C16H32O2,3, 7, 11, 15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol C20H40O. 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol C20H40O,.5-Octadecene[E] C18H36, Tetradecanoic acid C14H28O2 , Decane -5,6-bis(2,2-dimethyl propylidene)(E,Z) C20H38,1-Hexadecene C16H32 .Cholestan-3-d-2- methylene(3β,5a)C28H48O, Benzocycloheptatriene C11H10, Benzene- 2-ethenyl-1,3,5-trimethyl C11H14 and Napthalene C10H8 . Most of these compounds have marked anticancer, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory properties making the plant leaf a potent medicine for the treatment of cancer, tumour, inflammation and cardiovascular disease.