Abstract

GC- MS ANALYSIS OF THE BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF THE ROOT FRACTIONS OF COMBRETUM MOLLE (R.BR. EX.G.DON)

D. Kulawe*, S. P. Bako, D. N. Iortsuun, H. I. Inabo and J. S. Hena

ABSTRACT

Combretum molle is known as a valuable medicinal plant. It has varied medicinal properties that can be exploited for the treatment of many diseases. The aqueous, n-butanol and the ethyl-acetate fractions of the roots of Combretum molle were analyzed for their phytochemical content using GC-MS. Ethanol was used as solvent for extraction, after which differential fractionization was carried out using distilled water, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Aqueous, ethyl-acetate and n-butanol fractions of the roots of C. molle were screened for secondary chemicals. GC-MS revealed the presence of 23 compounds in the n- butanol root fraction, 18 compounds in the ethyl-acetate root fraction and 10 compounds in the aqueous root fraction.

Keywords: Combretum molle, Gas chromatography mass spectrometry, Plant fractions.