Chemical Characterization of Crude Phenolic Leaf Extract of Acalypha wilkesiana

Abstract

Acalypha wilkesiana is a widely eaten vegetable, reportedly used traditionally in the management of hypertension, diabetes and as an antimicrobial agent, probably because of its rich phenolic composition. The phytochemical and phenolic profiles of the crude leaf extract of the plant were assessed using standard methods, and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannin, steroids and saponins. GC-FID analysis revealed the presence of dihydrocytisine, ammodendrine, spartein, hydroxylupanine, ribalinidine, anthocyanin, flavone, flavonones, aphylidine, proanthocyanidin, isolupanine, narigenin, sapogenin, cardiac glycoside, tannin, and cyanogenic glycoside in varying proportions. GC-MS analysis identified 14 constituents with major ones being 2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-, (Z) Citral (14.88 %), citral 2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-, (E) (16.9 %), cis-3-Hexenyl cis-3-hexenoate (10.59 %), trans-2,7-Dimethyl-4,6-octadien-2-ol (20.56 %) and 3,8,11-Trioxatetracyclo[4.4.1.0(2,4).0(7,9)] undecane (11.69 %). This study has shown that crude phenolic leaf extract of A. wilkesiana contains pharmacologically active compounds which support its traditional use in the treatment of oxidative stress related diseases and hence a potential candidate for drug discovery. Keywords: Acalypha wilkesiana, phytochemicals, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Secondary metabolites.