Proximate, Selected Elements and Bioactive Compounds in Jatropha tanjorensis and Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaves

Abstract

A comparative research was performed on two medicinal leaves: Jatropha tanjorensis and Bryophyllum pinnatum collected from Angalabiri community, Nigeria, to ascertain the proximate content, mineral composition, and secondary metabolite profiling in the leaves. The proximate analyses of the leaves of J. tanjorensis and B. pinnatum revealed: moisture (84.87%, 92.66%), ash (7.91%, 1.11%), protein (6.20%, 1.30%), fat (14.54%, 8.40%), fibre (14.67%, 21.31%) and carbohydrate (54.28 %, 24.78%) respectively. Mineral analyses showed: potassium (0.018%, 0.060%), iron (0.134%, 0.003%), manganese (0.001%, 0.0002%), calcium (1.47%, 1.30%) and phosphorus (1.47%, 0.170%) separately. Examining methanolic extracts obtained from J. tanjorensis and B. pinnatum leaves through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) uncovered fifteen and six bioactive constituents, respectively. Fascinatingly, GC-MS findings unveiled the existence of distinct active biological compounds in both leaves: benzyl 1-[(1-hydroxy-4-oxo-1-phenyltetrahydroquinolin-3-yl)carbamoyl] cyclohexane-1-carboxylate, cycloheptanehexol, and ginsenoside Rh2, at different percentage concentrations. All identified bioactives are stated to demonstrate anti-tumorigenic properties, antibacterial, anticancer and anti-irritant properties. Undoubtedly, the bioactive compounds in Jatropha tanjorensis and Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves, affirm their use in ethnomedicine.