Phytochemical Constituents, GC-MS Profile and Nutritional Composition of Euphorbia heterophylla L. Leaves

Abstract

Euphorbia heterophylla L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the management of various health conditions. This study evaluated the phytochemical and GC-MS characteristics of the aqueous leaf extract and the proximate composition of the powdered leaves of Euphorbia heterophylla L. Leaves were collected, shade-dried and powdered; a portion was extracted with distilled water by maceration for 72 h, while the powdered leaves were used for proximate analysis. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, steroids, triterpenes, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and phenols, while anthraquinones, glycosides and cardiac glycosides were not detected. Quantitative analysis showed that flavonoids had the highest concentration (13.13 ± 0.23%), followed by tannins (9.93 ± 0.05%) and phenols (6.42 ± 0.36%). Alkaloids, saponins and steroids recorded 3.14 ± 0.12%, 2.35 ± 0.08% and 1.23 ± 0.15%, respectively. Proximate analysis showed crude fibre as the major component (43.78 ± 6.27%), followed by crude protein (23.10 ± 0.61%) and ash (14.15 ± 0.69%). Moisture, nitrogen-free extract and crude fat were 4.42 ± 0.03%, 10.58 ± 6.27% and 1.11 ± 0.34%, respectively. GC-MS analysis produced 17 chromatographic entries with retention times ranging from 8.202 to 18.015 min. The detected compounds were tentatively identified through comparison with the NIST spectral library. The findings provide baseline information on the phytochemical and GC-MS characteristics of the aqueous leaf extract and the proximate composition of the powdered leaves and provide a basis for further chemical and biological investigation.