METABOLIC PROFILING OF ANTIMYCOBACTERIAL HEXANE FRACTION OF THE LEAVES OF PHYLLANTHUS MUELLERIANUS KUNTZE (EXELL.) USING GC-MS ANALYSIS

Morufu Adisa Ademoye*, Labunmi Lajide, Bodunde Joseph Owolabi, Catherine Chizoba Onubogu

ABSTRACT

The hexane and ethylacetate fractions of Phyllanthus muellerianus demonstrated sensitivity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains H37Rv and local isolates. The metabolic profiling of the hexane fraction of the leaves of the plant using GC-MS analysis showed the presence of three fatty acids methyl esters (hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (8.25%)), cis-13-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (4.48%), octadecanoic acid methyl ester (3.02%)), four fatty acid ethyl esters (Hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (8.17%), linoleic acid ethyl ester (0.63%), ethyl oleate (12.94%), octadecanoic acid ethyl ester (6.11%)), a propyl ester (n-propyl-11-Octadecenoate (5.74%)), two butyl esters (Hexadecanoic acid butyl ester (3.28%), Octadecanoic acid butyl ester (1.49%)), a monoterpene (Bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes-2,6,-trimethyl (9.21%)) , an acyclic diterpene alcohol (Phytol (16.18%)), an unsaturated cyclic alcohol (3,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2-enol (1.30%)) and a triterpene polyunsaturated hydrocarbon (squalene (4.19%)). Phytol, with the highest percentage, and squalene had been reported in literature to show antimycobacterial activity. Some of the constituents are also known to possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which could have contribute to the therapeutic effect of the plant.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Phyllanthus muellerianus, antimycobacteria.