Identification and determination of bioactive phytochemical constituents from the hydro-alcoholic extract of achyranthes aspera whole plant by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis

Objective: Achyranthes aspera Linn. commonly known as prickly chaff flower belonging to the family Amaranthaceae is said to show varied medicinal effects, including antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative, laxative, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, useful in pneumonia, edema, dropsy and piles, boils, eruptions of skin various other important medicinal properties. Hence, the present study deals with the determination of phytochemical constituents present in the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. aspera whole plant extract using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Methods: The phytoconstituents present in the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. aspera whole plant was investigated extract using GC-MS technique, while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Results: GC-MS analysis of A. aspera whole plant extract revealed the existence of tetradecane (0.62%), benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-3,5- dimethoxy-(0.52%), 3-buten-2-one, 4-(2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] hept-1-yl) (2.65%), xanthoxylin (0.53%), phenol,4-(3-hydroxy-1- propenyl)-2-methoxy-(2.95%), patchouli alcohol (0.76%), dl-(2-fluorophenyl)-glycine (2.18%), flurenol butyl ester (0.91%), hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (3.28%), ethanone, 2-(benzoyloxy)-1-(1,1’-biphenyl)-4-yl- (0.93%), phytol (22.13%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-(12.74%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-,2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (1.12%), squalene (0.55%), and lupeol (1.74%). Conclusion: The present study revealed that A. aspera Linn. is an important plant with many therapeutically and pharmacologically active constituents justifying the use of this plant to treat many ailments in folk and herbal medicine. © 2015, Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. All rights reserved.