IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF BIOACTIVE PHYTOCHEMICALCONSTITUENTS FROM THE HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA WHOLE PLANT BY GC-MS ANALYSIS

Abstract

Objective: Achyranthes aspera Linn. commonly known as prickly chaff flower belonging to the family  Amaranthaceae is said to show varied medicinal effects, including antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative, laxative, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, useful in pneumonia, oedema, dropsy and piles, boils, eruptions of skin various other important medicinal properties. Hence the present study deals with the determination of Phytochemical constituents present in the hydro-alcoholic extract of Achyranthes aspera whole plant extract using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry technique.

Methods: The phytoconstituents present in the hydro-alcoholic extract of Achyranthes aspera whole plant was investigated extract using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry technique, while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library.

Results: GC-MS analysis of Achyranthes aspera whole plant extract revealed the existence of  Tetradecane(0.62%), Benzaldehyde,4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-(0.52%), 3-Buten-2-one,4-(2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-1-yl) (2.65%), Xanthoxylin (0.53%), Phenol,4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxy-(2.95%), Patchouli alcohol (0.76%), dl-(2-Fluorophenyl)-glycine(2.18%), Flurenol butyl ester (0.91%), Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (3.28%), Ethanone,2-(benzoyloxy)-1-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl- (0.93%), Phytol (22.13%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (12.74%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-,2,3-dihydroxypropyl Ester (1.12%), Squalene (0.55%), Lupeol (1.74%)

Conclusion: The present study revealed that Achyranthes aspera Linn is an important plant with many therapeutically and pharmacologically active constituents justifying the use of this plant to treat many ailments in folk and herbal medicine.

 

Key words: Achyranthes aspera, GC-MS technique, Herbal Medicine, Lupeol, Phytol, Xanthophylin