GC-MS ANALYSES OF ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACT FROM LEAVES OF ABRUS PRECATORIUS L.- A MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT PLANT

Mohammed Shafi Sofi* and Shabnum Nabi

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the chemical constituents of a traditionally used ethno-medicinal plant Abrus precatorius L. by preliminary phytochemical analysis and using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical method. Ethyl acetate extract of A. precatorius (EAE-AP) leaves was prepared by using ethyl acetate solvent using a Soxhlet extractor for 16 h in soxhlet apparatus. GC-MS analysis of EAE-AP was performed using a Shimadzu Japan GC-2010 plus series apparatus. The spectrum of unknown component was compared with spectrum of the known components stored in National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) library; the name, molecular weight and structure of components in the test materials were ascertained. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the EAE-AP leaves by qualitative study revealed the presence of phytochemical alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoid/Steroids. Interestingly, twenty chemical constituents were identified in EAE-AP by GC-MS analyses. Many of these identified compounds are known to be having various pharmacological activities. Further by isolating and biologically characterizing these compounds, new drugs can be formulated to treat different life threatening diseases. The overall result obtained from this research suggested that A. precatorius may serve as a new potential source of medicines in the future.

Keywords: Abrus precatorius, GC-MS Screening and Phytochemical analysis.