GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY (GC-MS) ANALYSIS OF ACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI (CHANCA PIEDRA).

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze active compounds in Phyllantus niruri. Phyllanthus niruri also known as Chanka piedra is widely grown and used throughout the tropical and subtropical countries of the world, known by the common names gale of the wind, stonebreaker or seed-under-leaf. The plant was identified and authenticated by an expert from Niger State College of Education Minna. The plant was air dried at room temperature, pulverized in to powder, sieved into fine particles and kept in a cellophane bag in a cool dry place. The method of choice for the extraction of the crude extracts in this study was cold extraction, or maceration. The pulverized sample of Phyllantus niruri and its methanol extract were subjected to a GC-MS analysis. The results from the GC-MS analysis of the pulverized sample of Phyllanthus niruri revealed the presence of flavonoids, caumarine, Ligmam, carbohydrate, Tannins, Terpenoids, saponin, resins, anthraquinones, phenol and alkaloids which are useful bioactive agents that have been reported with physiological effects in humans. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis of the crude extract of Phyllantu niruri revealed the presence of Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, Dibutyl phthalate, Cyclohexane, 1,3,5-triphenyl- Isoxazole, 3,4-dihydroxy-10,13,dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-ly]pyran-2-one which suggest that the plant has rich medicinal properties. It was concluded that, the plant is very rich with various chemical constituents; which are the reason for its various activities against several ailments.