Characterization of bioactive compounds in Luffa Aegptiaca leaf ethanoic extracts using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Abstract

Medicinal plants contains several bioactive compounds or phytochemicals that therapeutically exert wide spectrum of biological activities such as; antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, hypolipidemic, analgesics, antioxidant, immune-stimulatory, immune-modulatory and anticancer. These bioactive compounds are effective, non-toxic and environmental friendly. The aim of this experiment was to determine the bioactive compounds in Luffa aegptiaca ethanolic leaf extract using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytochemical analysis of the sample reveals the presence of  alkaloids (1314.9 mg/g), glycosides (11.60 mg/g) while tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins and oxalates were present in 807.56 mg/g, 512.9 mg/g, 308.7 mg/g, 192.6 mg/g, 102.1 mg/g, 61.44 mg/g and 20.90 mg/g respectively. GC-MS analysis of Luffa aegptiaca ethanolic leaf extract shows that it contains 35 bioactive compounds with marked pharmaceutical properties. 1,11-Bicyclopropyl] 2-octanoic acid had the highest concentration (19.06 %)  while β-methylnaphthalene had the lowest concentration (0.01 %). It was concluded that the presence of these phytochemicals will inhibit some pathogenic bacteria’s thus promoting a healthy gut in animals.