Phytochemical Screening, GC-MS Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Three Medicinal Plants From Nigeria

Phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and antioxidant activity of some medicinal plants were investigated using standard methods. Leaves of Gongronema latifolium, Petrocarpus mildbraedii, and Piper guineense plants were prepared properly and used in the entire study. Results of phytochemical screening for the plants revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, reducing sugars amongst others at different concentrations. Results of GC-MS analysis for G.latifolium showed a total of thirty-three compounds of which Cyclohexano, 2-l(methlaminomethyl)-trans had the highest retention time, squalene had the highest molecular weight and phytol had the highest peak area. GC-MS result for P.mildbraedii revealed a total of twenty-three of which Acatamide,2,2,2-trichloro- had the highest retention time, Erucic acid had the highest molecular weight whereas n-Hexadecanoic acid the highest peak area. Only ten compound were observed in P.guineense of which Ethyl (3-hydroxyphenyl) carbamate had the highest retention time, Benzaminde, N-(4,5-dichloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2yl)-3,5-dimethoxy- had the highest molecular weight and Benzene, 1,2,3-trimethoxy-5-(2-propenyl)- has the highest peak area in P. guineense. The antioxidant activity of the plant extracts as assessed, followed the order P.guineense > G.latifolium> P. mildbraedii in comparative with ascorbic acid used as the control. The observed compounds become very important when the usefulness of these plants as medicinal plants are considered. They could as well be behind the antioxidant property of the plants in this study. This study has revealed the phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and antioxidant activity of some medicinal plants.