Phytochemical Analysis of N-Hexane Leaf Extract of Conoclinum coelestinum (Blue Mistflower) Using Ultraviolet-visible and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

Abstract

This study evaluates the phytochemical composition and characterization of n-hexane extracts of Conoclinum coelestinum leaves. Fresh leaves were extracted with a Soxhlet extractor using n-hexane as the solvent, and the extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis, characterization was done using Uv-VIS and FTIR. Results show the presence of the following Phytochemicals; glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, saponin, phytosterols, triterpenoids, phlobatanins, alkaloids, phenols, protein, amino acids, carbohydrates, fat and oil, tannins and flavonoids.The UV–Vis spectra of the extracts revealed distinct phytochemicals which showed a strong absorption at ~630 nm (500–700 nm range) and tailing beyond 700 nm, indicating chlorophyll a/b, carotenoids, and chlorophyll degradation products. The FT-IR analysis revealed a wide range of functional groups, including hydroxyls (free and hydrogen-bonded), amine/amide groups, aromatic and aliphatic C–H stretches, carboxylic acids, nitrile/alkyne bonds, high-frequency carbonyls, and conjugated C=O/C=C systems. This study demonstrates that the leaves of Conoclinumcoelestinum possess a rich phytochemicals profile.