GC–MS analysis of bioactive compounds from Melastomastrum capitatum (Vahl) Fern. leaf methanol extract: An anticancer plant

Abstract

Traditional and herbal medicines are the most and easily available health care remedy in most African countries. The use of medicinal plants began centuries due to their accessibility. Melastomastrum capitatum is a plant use in Mambila plateau in Taraba State, Nigeria for treating many diseases notably ovarian cancer in traditional medicine. Decoction of leaf of the plant is mostly used in this case. This study was carried out in order to determine the bioactive compounds present in the leaf methanol extract of M. capitatum by using the GC–MS machine. Eight hundred gram of powdered leaves was extracted in methanol using Soxhlet apparatus and concentrated in vacuo in a rotary evaporator. The crude extract was purified in a silica gel filled column chromatography. Fractions were grouped based on their TLC similar profiles into six, and analyzed in an Agilent 7890A GC system coupled with a 5975C VL mass spectrum detector. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of the following phyto-compounds: Methyl tetradecanoate (Z; 242.3975, RT: 14.171; 1.93%), 9-dodeoenoic acid methyl ester E (Z; 296.495, RT: 16.853, 1.01%), Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (Z; 270.45, RT: 17.475; 86.31%), 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (Z; 294.479, RT: 20.514; 100.00%), Methyl stearate (Z; 298.504, RT: 20.989; 7.66%) and Methyl 18-nonadecanoate (Z;326.557, RT: 24.500; 0.71%). These compounds are the first isolated compounds from the leaf, and unarguably play very crucial roles in the health care system especially in cancer treatment and other diseases. The study showed that the presence of these compounds in the leaves of M. capitatum might be responsible for its biological activities in traditional medicine. It is therefore a possible important plant of medical and pharmaceutical importance from which drug can be discovered. Keywords: GC–MS, Melastomastrum capitatum, Bioactive compounds, Column chromatography