GC-MS and Preliminary Phytochemical Constituents of Costus Afer Crude Stem Juice

Introduction

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents since times immemorial. The importance of medicinal plants in the management of human ailments cannot be over emphasized. It is clear that the plant kingdom harbours an inexhaustible source of active ingredients invaluable in the management of many intractable diseases [1, 2]. The term medicinal plants include various types of plants used in herbalism due their medicinal activities. These medicinal plants are considered as rich sources of ingredients which can be used in drug development Medicinal & Analytical Chemistry International Journal

synthesis. They have provided mankind with herbal remedies for many diseases for many centuries till date because they are good sources of bioactive compounds [3]. Phytochemical are bioactive chemicals of plant origin. They are regarded as secondary metabolites because the plants that manufacture them may have little need for them. Phytochemicals have been recognized as the basis for the traditional herbal medicine. Costus afer which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae is a monocot and a relatively tall, herbaceous, unbranched tropical plant with creeping rhizome. It is commonly found in moist or shady forest of West and Tropical Africa [4]. It has been reported that Costus afer possesses medicinal properties such as anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anthritic and treatment of various diseases such as cough, measles and different skin ailment. In view of all these reported medicinal effectiveness of the stem of this plant, the aim of this present study is to evaluate the bioactive constituents of this plant stem juice so as to ensure holistic use of the plant in treatment and management of diseases.

Materials and Methods

The whole plant of Costus afer was harvested at Amuke, Isiala Ngwa south L.G.A. in Abia state. The plant was identified at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Abia State University, Uturu and voucher specimen deposited at the herbarium of the Department. The leaves were removed from the stem and then were debarked. The debarked stems were introduced into a clean manual blender and were crushed to squeeze out their juice. The resulting juice was filtered using a sterile Muslin cloth and Whatman No 1 filter paper. The juice was concentrated by lyophilizing in a freeze dryer (Edwards, USA). The dried juice was stored in air tight amber bottle.

Discussion

Phytochemicals have been recognized as the basis for the tradition herbal medicine. The presence of various types of phytochemicals in plants has been implicated in the health promoting properties of medicinal plants. Sequel to this knowledge, the importance of determining the phytoconstituents and biological active substances considered for nutritional and medicinal purposes arose and hence the present study aimed at assessing the phytochemicals present in Costus afer. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of Costus afer stem juice revealed the presence alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol, tannin, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and terpenoid and the absence of saponin, phlobatannin, cardenolide, cyanogenic glycosides and oxalates. Alkaloids are known to have anti-microbial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effect and it also acts as an anti-hypertensive agent [9, 10]. The use of Costus afer in Ethnomedcine as an anti- hypertensive agent may be attributed to the presence of alkaloid [11]. The folkloric use of C. afer in the treatment of sore throat, diarrhea, hemorrhage and wound healing might be due to presence of tannins. Cardiac glycosides had been reported to be effective in the treatment of congestive heart failure and regulation of heart beat. Anthraquinones can induce laxative effect and hence, the use of C. afer as laxative and nervous system depressant may result from the presence of anthraquinones [12]. Flavonoids and phenols were abundant in the extract. These are potent water soluble antioxidants which prevent oxidative cell damage suggesting antiseptics, anticancer, anti-inflammatory effects and mild anti- hypertensive properties. Furthermore, plant phenolics are major group of compounds acting as primary antioxidants or free radical scavengers. The therapeutic potential of antioxidants in controlling degenerative diseases with marked oxidative damage from reactive oxygen species or free radicals have been reported [13]. High phenolic content showed high antioxidant and The Costus afer crude stem juice contains rich phytochemical constituents. Thirty compounds were identified in the GC/MS analysis. The individual names of compounds identified with respect to their individual peak number, retention time, area %, molecular weight were shown in Table 2. Among the compound identified are; 2 Furancaboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl)- was present in 70.357% forming one of the major constituents in the juice followed by Β-D-Glucopyranoside, methyl 3,6- anhydro- (5.390%), Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester(4.320%), Maltol (3.428%), dl-Malic disodiumsalt (3.041%), Malic acid (2.288%), 9,12-Octadecadienoyl chloride, (Z,Z)- (1.872%), Cyclopentaneundecanoic acid, methyl ester (1.553%), Ethyl β-d- riboside(1.433%),1,6;3,4-Dianhydro-2-O-acetyl-β-d- galactopyranose (0.788%), 2-Naphthalenol, decahydro-, (2α,4aα,8aβ)- (0.616%), Conhydrin (0.515%), Butanedioic acid, hydroxyl-, diethyl ester, (±) (0.399%), I- Gala-I-ido-octose (0.399%), Pterin-6-carboxylic acid (0.375%). Other compounds present were Silicic acid, diethyl bis (trimethylsilyl) ester (0.354%), n- Hexadecanoic acid (0.293%), Furazan-3-ol, 4-amino- (0.288%), 1-Heptatriacotanol (0.256%), 6-epi-shyobunol (0.258%), Urea, ethyl- 0.222%), Cyclohexane, 1-butyl- (0.220%), Farnesyl bromide (0.190%), Linoleic acid ethyl ester (0.185%), Squalene (0.184%), 3-Hydroxy-4- methoxybenzoic acid (0.178%), 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2- hexadecen-1-ol (0.173%), D-Allose (0.163%), 1,6- Anhydro-B-D-glucofuranose (0.153%), Dihydro-3- methylene-5-methyl-2-furanone (0.149%). All these compounds constitute 100.00% of the plant.

inhibition of lipid peroxidative activity. These suggest its potential in the treatment and prevention of various oxidative related diseases. These phytochemical constituents of stem extract of Costus afer provide some biochemical basis for its ethno pharmacological uses in the treatment and prevention of various diseases and disorders.

Medicinal & Analytical Chemistry International Journal

key: RT: Retention Time; MW: Molecular weight Table 2: GC-MS Phytochemical analysis of Costus afer stems juice.

Maltol (2-methyl-3-hydroxy-1,4-pyrone) is a naturally occurring substance that is widely used as a flavoring agent. It is formed through thermal degradation of starch or sucrose pyrolysis, but is also used in medications such as vanadyl maltolate for the treatment of diabetes, and ferric trimaltol for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, it has been reported that maltol has a neuroprotective effect through its antioxidant properties, and anti-apoptotic effects. Maltol has Anticonvulsant, antifatique, antitumour activity and cancer-preventive effect.

Conhydrin is efficient in anti-salmonella and anti- coronary activities [21]. Butanedioic acid, hydroxyl-, diethyl ester, (±)- has been reported to be anti-ulceric in nature [22]. 1,6-Anhydro-β-D-glucofuranose possesses biological activities such as the anti-human immunodeficiency virus and blood anticoagulant activities [23]. Sermakkani and Thangapandian [24] reported n-Hexadecanoic acid to be implicated in Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester has Antioxidant, Flavor, Hypocholesterolemic Nematicide, Pesticide, Lubricant, Antiandrogenic, Hemolytic, 5- Alpha reductase inhibitor activities. 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol has been reported to have activities such asantimicrobial, antioxidant, Antituberculosis , insecticidal, anti- inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, Anticancer, Diuretic. 9,12-Octadecadienoyl chloride, (Z,Z)- has been reported to possess antisecretory antispermigenic, antitonsilitic, antitubercular, choleretic, contraceptive activities [25].

Parthipan, et al. (2014) [26] reported that Cyclopentaneundecanoic acid, methyl ester has anti- microbial activity. L-gala-l-ido-octose is used for the synthesis of higher sugar necessary for the production of drugs used to specifically facilitate learning or memory, particularly to prevent the cognitive deficits associated with dementias [27]. 6-epi-shyobunol was reported to show Pharmacological effect, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities [28].

Pterin-6-carboxylic acid has been reported to possess anti-psychotic, mood stabilizer and anti-parasitic activities. Squalene has been reported to possess Medicinal & Analytical Chemistry International Journal

Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Pesticide, Antitumor, Cancer preventive, Immunostimulant, Chemo-preventive and Lipoxygenase- inhibitor activities [29, 30]. Heptatriacontanol, a C37 aliphatic alcohol may exhibit such activity. It also portrays anti-cancer, anti-neoplastic and anti-HIV.