Proximate, Phytochemical and Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Analysis of the Carbonated Drink (Soft drink) Extract of Enantia chlorantha Stem Bark

Abstract

Enantia chlorantha (EC) is a dense forest tree found in the Eastern and Southern forests of Cameroon, Southern part of Nigeria, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Angola (Cabinda) and DR Congo (Province Bas-Congo) and it is mostly used for the treatment of malaria and typhoid fever. Despite its widespread use, the phytochemical and the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis remains largely undetermined. This study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the phytochemical composition of EC. The proximate and phytochemical tests were carried out using standard methods while the identification and the quantification of the bioactive components were determined by GC-MS single-phase ion mode and the spectra from THE detected compounds were matched with known compounds of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The proximate analysis reveals that the plant is richest in crude fibre (47.30 ± 0.54% by dry mass), followed by total carbohydrate (28.13 ± 0.43%), crude protein (9.67 ± 0.32%), moisture content (8.30 ± 0.54%), ash content (3.00 ± 0.24%) and lastly lipids (1.60 ± 0.04%). The qualitative phytochemical composition reveals the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids and trace amount of tannins. Forty-seven (47) bioactive chemical constituents and forty (40) fatty acid compounds were identified by GC-MS. These include Oleic acid (17.70 %), n-Hexadecanoic acid (9.31%), 1-Hexyl-2-nitrocyclohexane (3.71%), Kauran-18-al, 17-(acetyloxy)-, (4. beta.) - (3.05%) as the predominant. The study revealed that Enantia chlorantha could be a useful source of nutrients and the bioactive chemical constituents may serve as potential drug target needed for drug discovery and development to cure a particular ailment and the brand of the carbonated drink may also be used as solvent of choice apart from water and alcohol.