TLC, GC MS AND ANTIBACTERIAL STUDY OF METHANOL EXTRACTS OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS THORNS AND MORINAGA OLEIFERA FLOWERS

The two medicinal plants namely, Moringa oleifera and Tribulus terrestris are well known for their medicinal roles ethnobotanically. The present work is to understand the presence of phytochemicals in each of them by TLC method and by GC MS analysis. The antibacterial study was also conducted for both the plants. The TLC profiles show the presence of terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids and alkaloids in both the plants. It was observed that antibacterial role of Tribulus terrestris was evident but Moringa flower extract did not show any antibacterial activity. The GC MS results show the presence of compounds such as Z-10-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate, Lyxitol, 1-O-hexyl-, 2-Butenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 2- (acetyloxy)- 1,1a,2,3,4,6,7,10,11,11adecahydro- 7,10-dihydroxy- 1,1,3,6,9-pentamethyl-4a,7aepoxy5Hcyclopenta[a]cyclopropa[f]cycloundecen-11-yl ester, [1aR- [1aR*,2R*,3S*,4aR*,6S*,7S*,7aS*,8E,10R*,11R*(E),11aS*]]- in Moringa flowers whereas molecules such as 2,2,4-Trimethyl-3-pentanol, n-Hexadecanoic acid and Z-1,6-Tridecadiene were present in Tribulus terrestris. Further work to understand the molecular mechanism of the compound found in the GC MS analysis is needed. Key words: Moringa oleifera, Tribulus terrestris, GC MS, TLC, Antibacterial.