GC-MS Analysis of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius Leaf Aqueous Extracts

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is a leafy vegetable consumed for its nutritional values and medicinal purposes. The leaves were extracted with water (a polar solvent), then subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and further GC-MS analysis. The preliminary screening showed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, anthraquinones and triterpenoids while the GC-MS result revealed 42 compounds. The major compounds were Borneol (1.41 %), Caryophyllene oxide (2.73 %), 1H-cycloprop (e) azulene (2.02 %), 4- (1, 5-Dimethyl hex-4-enyl) cyclohex-2-enone (4.15 %), Farnesol (2.51 %), Spiro (4.5) dec-6-en-8-one (6.87 %), Longipinane (4.18 %) and Benzene (13.37 %). This study shows that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius contain many biologically active compounds in various concentrations which could have been responsible for its numerous biological actions.