ELUCIDATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN METHANOL EXTRACT OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA LEAF FROM AN UNCULTIVATED COASTAL LAND IN SUB-SAHARA

Abstract

Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich is known for its numerous traditional uses and pharmacological activities. This study was carried out to elucidate the bioactive components of methanolic leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. through both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the leaf extract. The qualitative analysis was carried out post methanol extraction through the phytochemical screening of some secondary metabolites such as the tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides. Moreso, quantitative analyses were carried out using Gas chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique for the identification and profiling of the different bioactive components present in the aforementioned methanol leaf extract. There was an observable presence of phytochemicals such as the tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids and an absence of terpenoids and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. Furthermore, the presence of 62 bioactive components was observed with five components including, Bicyclo[3,1,0] hex-2-ene,2 methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)  (8.75%), (1S)-2,6,6-Trimethylbicyclo[3,1,1]hept-2-ene-Hexadecanoic acid (11.60%), 2-Octylcyclopropene-1-heptanol (8.43%), Stigmasterol (4.30%) and Octadecanoic acid exhibiting the highest peaks. The presence of these phytocompounds observed in this study thus potentiates its pharmacological uses further making it a good candidate for drug discovery.