Abstract
Mystroxylon aethiopicum has been used by many ethnic groups in Africa for the management of hemorrhagic diarrhea, stomachache, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections coughs, hypertension and gonorrhea. This study was carried out to identify low molecular weight phytochemicals present in the root bark extract of M. aethiopicum with the aid of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of various low molecular weight phytochemicals which belongs to four groups of secondary metabolites namely sesquiterpenes, dieterpenes, monoterpenes and fatty acids. The presence of these phytochemicals in the plant extract may be positively associated with pharmacological properties of M. aethiopicum and therefore justifying the ethnomedical usage of the plant. Key words: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, pharmacological properties, phytochemicals.
Highlights
The importance of medicinal plants and traditional health systems in solving health care problems of the world is gaining attention (Gadir, 2012)
These phytochemicals belongs to four groups of secondary metabolites namely sesquiterpenes, dieterpenes, monoterpenes and fatty acids
Sesquiterpenes seemed to be in high proportions than the rest of low molecular weight secondary metabolites identified in M. aethiopicum chloroform root bark extract
Summary
The importance of medicinal plants and traditional health systems in solving health care problems of the world is gaining attention (Gadir, 2012). There has been a growing interest in researching and developing new compounds from different sources including medicinal plants such as Mystroxylon aethiopicum to combat infectious diseases pathogenic microbes (Balouiri et al, 2016). This plant species was earlier reportedly used by many ethnic groups in Africa for the management of infectious diseases (Boer et al, 2005). Despite the wide use of such plant in the management of infectious diseases, there is lack of scientific studies regarding phytochemicals responsible for therapeutic effects In this regard, the plant was chosen for determination of its bioactive compounds. This study reports the phytochemical investigations of M. aethiopicum chloroform root bark extract using GC-MS technique
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