Abstract
Essential oil was extracted from the dried leaves of Sesamum radiatum by hydro-distillation and analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. n-Hexadecanoic acid was found to be the major constituent and with three other fatty acids namely, 9,12,15-octadecanoic acid-(Z,Z,Z), dodecanoic acid and tetradecanoic acid constitute 40.64% of the oil. Other constituents include heptatriacontanol, estra–1,3,5(10)–trien-17a-ol, 1-(+)–ascorbic acid, 2,6-dihexadecanoate, ethyl isoallocholate, 18,19–secoyohimban–19-oic acid, 16,17,20,21-tetrahydro-16-(hydroxymethyl)-methyl ester, (15a, 16E)-trans-(2,3-diphenylcyclopropyl) methylphenyl sulfoxide, 1,1-[2-methyl-2-(phenylthio) cyclopropylidene]bis-benzene and phenolics. The presence of some of these constituents in the essential oil provides the scientific evidences for the observed cardiovascular and estrogenic activity as well as curative properties of the plant for male infertility factor, constipation, fungal and bacterial infections and bruises.
Highlights
Sesamum radiatum is a perennial herb found in the tropical areas of Africa and belongs to the Pedaliaceae family (Purseglove, 1974; Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1954)
Essential oil was extracted from the dried leaves of Sesamum radiatum by hydro-distillation and analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. n-Hexadecanoic acid was found to be the major constituent and with three other fatty acids namely, 9,12,15-octadecanoic acid-(Z,Z,Z), dodecanoic acid and tetradecanoic acid constitute 40.64% of the oil
The acclaimed success associated with the use of the leaves in treating male infertility factor is the major reason for this study as information about the chemical constituents in the leaves Ogunlesi et al 1061
Summary
Sesamum radiatum is a perennial herb found in the tropical areas of Africa and belongs to the Pedaliaceae family (Purseglove, 1974; Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1954). The leaves, seeds and oil serve as food especially in farming communities in Nigeria (Akpan-Iwo et al, 2006). The leaves are used in correcting male infertility by enhancing sperm count. This is one of the major uses of the plant in Western Nigeria. The acclaimed success associated with the use of the leaves in treating male infertility factor is the major reason for this study as information about the chemical constituents in the leaves Ogunlesi et al 1061. We present the constituent compounds in the essential oil isolated from the leaves of S. radiatum as identified by combined gas chromatography - mass spectrometry
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