Proximate Composition, Mineral analysis and Phytochemical Characterization of an Ethnomedicinal Plant Sphenodesme involucrata var. paniculata (C.B. Clarke) Munir

Abstract

Since ancient times, people have utilized plants for their therapeutic benefits.These ethnomedicinal plants acquire their therapeutic qualities from some key phytochemicals or secondary metabolites that they contain. Sphenodesme involucrata var. paniculata (C.B.Clarke) Munir is an ethnomedicinal plant which contains several bioactive components. The study focuses on the proximate composition, mineral analysis and phytochemical characterization of Sphenodesme involucrata var. paniculata leaves using GC-MS and LC-MS analysis. The proximate analysis of the leaves unveiled higher carbohydrate (60.80 ± 0.06) content and poor fat( 0.80 ± 0.01) .The mineral analysis yielded higher concentration of Calcium(1269.00 ± 1.15) and lower concentration of zinc(1.60 ± 0.12). GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic extract showed the presence of several important compounds like Phytol, hexadecanoic acid, Phenol,2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl), squalene,1,2-Benzendicarboxylic acid, mono(2-ethyl hexyl) ester etc. Cepharanthine and isoacteoside were found to be prevailing in the LC-MS analysis. Compounds such as somniferine, grossamide, gallic acid and obaberine were also detected. Numerous minerals, nutrients and secondary metabolites present in this plant support its use in traditional medicine. Additionally, it supports the claim that the plant’s abundance of vital nutrients and minerals makes it safer and healthier to consume.