Characterization of Chemical Composition of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf Ethyl Acetate Fraction

Aims: To characterize the chemical composition of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf ethyl acetate fraction.

Methodology: Quantitative phytochemical composition was assessed using gas chromatography fitted with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), while chemical characterization was via gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis. The mass spectra peaks were matched with those found in the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) spectral database.

Results: Results revealed a rich presence of proanthocyanin, rutin, quinine, flavan-3-ol, anthocyanin, lunamarin, sapogenin, phenol, flavonones, steroids, epicatechin, kaempferol, phytate, oxalate, resveratol, catechin, flavones, tannin, ribalinidine, naringin, and spartein in varying proportion in B. pinnatum leaves ethylacetate fractions. GC-MS analysis of the fractions revealed the presence of at least 50 constituents. The major constituents were Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (24.88%), 10,13-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (29.69%), Tetracosanoic acid, methyl ester (7.84%), Methyl stearate (6.97%), cis-Methyl 11-eicosenoate (6.26%), Methyl 18-methylnonadecanoate (4.99%), Docosanoic acid, methyl ester (3.71%) and 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, octahydro- (2.43%).

Conclusion: This rich array of chemical compounds presents B. pinnatum leaves as an important source of potential lead compounds with biological and pharmacological benefits and hence a potential candidate for drug discovery.