ISSN: 2639-2534
Authors: Egege AN, Nwaogwugwu JC*, Nosiri CI and Okereke SC
The present study investigated phytochemical constituents of Costus afer crude stem juice. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol, tannin, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids while the juice showed absence of saponin, phlobatannin, cardenolide, cyanogenic glycosides and oxalates. Thirty compounds were identified in the GC/MS analysis of Costus afer stem juice. The individual names of compounds identified with respect to their individual peak number, retention time, area %, molecular weight are shown. Among the compound identified are; 2 Furancaboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl) was present with percentage peak area of 70.357% and retention time of 5.417 forming the major constituents in the juice followed by Î’-D-Glucopyranoside, methyl 3,6-anhydro with the percentage area of 5.390% and retention time of 8.869. Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester was also detected with percentage area of 4.320% and retention time of 10.27. Maltol was detected with percentage peak of 3.428% and retention time of 5.649. Dl-Malic disodiumsalt was detected with percentage peak of 3.041%. Other compounds present were Silicic acid, diethyl bis (trimethylsilyl) ester with percentage peak area of 0.354% and retention time of 15.01. N-Hexadecanoic acid with percentage peak area of 0.293% and retention time of 9.848. Furazan-3-ol, 4-amino with percentage peak area of 0.288% and retention time of 6.466. Deferent compounds has been reported to possess different biological activities like; antioxidant, flavouring agent, and anti-inflammatory properties, anti-apoptotic effects, Anticonvulsant, antifatique, antitumor activity and cancer-preventive effect. The properties accounts for the use of this plant for medicinal purposes.
Keywords: GCMS; Phytochemical; Costus afar; Terpenoids; Alkaloid
