Abstract
In view of the high demands for alternative medicines in developing countries and the dearth of valid scientific data on herbal formulations. This study was designed to identify and characterize the bioactive compounds present in hexane fraction of Costus afer ker Gawl stem, an indigenous medicinal African plant used as therapy in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Phytochemical evaluation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical methods were carried out. The mass spectra of the identified compounds were compared with those of the National Institute of Standards and Technology database library. Results showed the presence of alkaloids, diterpenes, triterpenes, phytosterol, phenol, phlobatannins and tannins while GC/MS data detected 16 compounds including benzofuran, 2,3-dihydro and oleic acid. These compounds identified in the hexane fractions of C. afer stem may explain the folkloric use of C. afer plant stem extract in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.
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