TLC Analysis and GC-MS Profiling of Hexane Extract of Syzygium guineense Leaf

Abstract

Syzygium guineense leaf and bark are used for the treatment of tuberculosis, chronic diarrhea, cough, dysentery, malaria, amenorrhea, wounds, ulcers, rheumatism and infections. The various compounds in the n-hexane extract of the leaf were analysed by TLC and identified by GC-MS technique. The TLC results indicated that four (4) terpenes are present in hexane extracts of the leaf of Syzygium guineense after treating TLC plates with vanillin-Conc.H2SO4. The results of the GC-MS analysis revealed twelve (12) compounds in the n-hexane extract of Syzygium guineense leaf. These are 1-ethyl-2-methylbenzene (2.61%), Ylangene (2.42%), decahydro-4a-methyl-1-methylene-7-(1-methylethynyl)-naphthalene(γ-muurolone) (2.47%), 4-dimethyl-7-(1-ethylethenyl)azulene (2.06%), caryophyllene oxide(3.86%), myristic acid (2.11%), n-hexadecenoic acid (11.94%), 9-octadecanoic acid (25.72%), tetratriacontane (31.45%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (2.71%), tetratriacontane (6.70%) and pentatriacontane (3.95%). These compounds fall into three classes; terpene/terpenoids, organic acids and hydrocarbons with the major compounds been the organic acids 42.48%. Hydrocarbons constituent 42.1% of the extract while only 0.38% constitute terpenes/terpenoids. The results of this study offer a basis of using S. guineense leaf as an alternative medicinal agent as anti-inflammatory analgesic, antipyretic and platelet-inhibitory actions.