GC-MS of volatile components of fermented wheat germ extract

Abstract

Wheat has been used as food and folk medicine. We have earlier reported that the administration of ethyl acetate extract of ferrmented wheat at 300 mg/kg body weight have anti-trypanosomal activity. To better understand the active constituent for anti-trypanosomal properties, the crude extract was partially purified using column chromatography to give fractions A, B and C, which were further characterized by gas chromatographic – mass spectral (GC/MS) analysis. The fractions identified 12, 14 and 23 compounds respectively. The major volatile compounds were classified into oxygenated hydrocarbon (manool, hexadecyl acetate and butyl dodecanoate) and n-hydrocarbon (1- eicosene). Key words: Wheat seeds, volatile compound, GC-MS, Retention index (KI).