GC-MS evaluation of bioactive compounds and antibacterial activity of the oil fraction from the seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma (HARMS)

The ethanolic extract of the seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma Harms yielded a dark-brown oil (4.26g). The oil was subjected to GC-MS studies. Twelve phyto-constituents were identified with 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid ethyl ester (25.38%) constituting the bulk of the oil, followed by n-Hexadecanoic acid (15.00%). Other esters, fatty acids and steroid identified include Hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (10.00%), 9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (13.46%), Octadecanoic acid (13.08%), Eicosanoic acid (4.62%), Docosanoic acid (5.77%), Docosanoic acid ethyl ester (2.31%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (1.92%), Tetracosanoic acid (3.85%), Ethyl tetracosanoate (2.69%) and Beter-sitosterol (1.92%). The volatile oil showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest why Brachystegia eurycoma Harms is used in the treatment of wounds and infections in herbal medicine in Eastern Nigeria.

Author(s): Okenwa Uchenna Igwe* and Donatus Ebere Okwu

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