GC And FTIR Studies Of Hexane and Ethanol Extracts of Calophyllum Inophyllum, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the phytochemical constituents in ethanol and hexane seed extract of Calophyllum inophyllum. The seed extracts contains saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, and steroids and absence of alkaloids and anthraquinones.

The FTIR study shows various absorptions in the two extracts of Callophylum inophyllum. A strong absorption at 3265.3 cm^-1 corresponds to O-H stretch which was observed in the ethanol extract only. C=O stretch was observed in 1742.5 cm^-1 and 1701.5 cm^-1 in both extracts. Other strong absorptions were observed at 2853.3 cm^-1, 2929.7 cm^-1, 2922.2cm^-1, 2976.3 cm^-1, 1578.5 cm^-1, 1459.3 cm^-1, 1347.4 cm^-1, 1235.6 cm^-1 and 1312.0 cm^-1 in both extracts. 1407.1cm^-1, 1449.9cm^-1 and 1116.3cm^-1 in the ethanol extract only. 3006.1 cm^-1, 1654.9cm^-1, 1625.1 cm^-1, and1377.3 cm^-1 in hexane extract only. 1079.1 cm^-1, 1097.7 cm^-1,1118.2 cm^-1 and 1159.2 cm^-1 in both extracts. Other absorptions observed are 1039.9 cm^-1_,855.2 cm^-1, 721.2 cm^-1, 928.1 cm^-1, 885.2 cm^-1, and 697.0 cm^-1.

Gas Chromatography analysis identified the presence of eight fatty acids in Calophyllum inophyllum seed extract namely:  Lauric (3.19%), Pentadecanoic (0.3%), Stearic (8.03%), Oleic (17.63%), Linoleic (16.67%), Arachnidic (0.2%), Behenic (0.05%), Lignoceric (0.04%) and absence of Tridecanoic, Myristic, Palmitic, Tricosnoic.

This study concludes that the seed extracts of Calophylluminophyllum contain large amounts of phytochemicals and beneficial fatty acids with a possibility of wide range application taking advantage of the biological activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, analgesic and against other disorders in favor of public health.