GC-MS profiling of phytochemicals present in ethanolic extract of Bauhinia variegata L. Leaves

Abstract

Bauhinia variegata L. is an ethnomedicinal plant belonging to the family Fabaceae and subfamily Caesalpiniaceae; commonly known as Kachnar, Mountain ebony, Koinar saag and Orchid tree. It is native to China, Indian-subcontinent and South eastern Asia. Ethnomedicinally it is used for the treatment of diarrhoea, mouth ulcer, hepatomegaly, tonsilitis, cyst and fibroid in uterus, burning sensation in urine and diabetes. It has pharmacological properties like antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective. For present study ethanolic extract was prepared using cold extraction method. For the identification of phytochemicals prepared extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis. The obtained spectra of GC-MS were analysed and compared with the GC-MS spectra database of online Wiley library and NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) to identify the phytochemical compounds. A total of 33 compounds were isolated, out of which Neophytadiene was present in highest %; Palmidrol and 2,6,10,14,18-PENTAMETHYL-2,6,10,14,18-ICOSAPENT in lowest %. Major phytochemicals identified from GC-MS spectra are Neophytadiene (25.19), Phytol (13.07) and gamma-Sitosterol (10.97). Identified phytochemicals belong to different compound classes of flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids. Most of the identified compounds are biologically active compounds which can be potential drug agents for control and treatment of various ailments.