Abstract
Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R. Dutta is a plant species belonging to the family Costaceae. It is widely distributed in China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, tropical, and subtropical Asia. In Ayurveda, the rhizome of this plant has been extensively used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms. The objective of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the leaf of Hellenia speciosa using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 17 phytochemical components in the ethanolic leaf extract of Hellenia speciosa. The prevailing bioactive compounds present in Hellenia speciosa were thymol (RT-10.019; 3.59%), caryophyllene (RT-11.854; 0.62%), caryophyllene oxide (RT-13.919; 1.34%), artumerone (RT-14.795; 1.35%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (RT-17.536; 2.77%), 9,12-octadecanoic acid methyl ester (RT-19.163; 1.35%), squalene (RT-24.980; 1.19%), piperine (RT-25.745; 3.11%), beta tocopherol (RT-26.681; 2.88%), vitamin E (RT-27.290; 2.64%), progesterone (RT-29.608; 3.18%), caparratriene (RT-29.861; 9.72%), and testosterone (RT-30.73; 5.81%). The compounds were identified by comparing their retention time and peak area with that of the literature and by interpretation of mass spectra. The results and findings of the present study suggest that the plant leaf can be used as a valuable source in the field of herbal drug discovery. The presence of bioactive compounds justifies the use of plant leaves for treating various diseases with fewer side effects and recommended the plant of pharmaceutical importance. However, further studies are needed to undertake its bioactivity and toxicity profile.
Highlights
Medicinal plants are the traditional source of chemical compounds in the field of biotechnology for the discovery of herbal medicine
The objective of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the leaf of Hellenia speciosa using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy analysis (GC-Mass spectroscopy (MS))
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is the accurate technique employed for the detection of functional groups and identification of various bioactive therapeutic compounds that are present in medicinal plants [5], [6]
Summary
Medicinal plants are the traditional source of chemical compounds in the field of biotechnology for the discovery of herbal medicine. The secondary metabolites are the phytochemical constituents present in the crude extracts of the plants [1]. Plant-based medicines that are derived from crude leaf extracts contain different phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are the bioactive principles having a unique and complex structure to treat various ailments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is the accurate technique employed for the detection of functional groups and identification of various bioactive therapeutic compounds that are present in medicinal plants [5], [6]. In the present study, the GC– MS technique was adopted for the detection and identification of phytochemical compounds present in the medicinal plant, Hellenia speciosa belonging to the Costaceae family
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