Phytochemical Profiling of the Hexane fraction of Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth S. Moore leaves by GC-MS

Abstract

Crassocephalum crepidioides is an edible plant which is also used in the ethnomedical treatment of stomach ulcer, indigestion, wounds, boils and burns in Africa and some other parts of the world. This study aims at identifying and characterizing the bioactive compounds present in C. crepidioides hexane fraction which may be responsible for the ethnomedicinal uses and reported activities of the plant. The crude extract from the powdered leaves of C. crepidioides was obtained with 70% methanol, followed by solvent partitioning with hexane to give the hexane fraction which was subjected to phytochemical profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Spectrum interpretation was obtained from the library search of the database of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), while biological activities of compounds identified were predicted based on Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. The results revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds with various biological activities including Hexadecanoic methyl ester and α-Linolenic acid with reported hypocholesterolemic properties; Benzofuranone and Benzofuran with anticancer and antiviral activities; phenolic compounds and flavonoids with reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities among others. The study showed that C. crepidioides contains compounds with important biological activities which provide scientific support for some medicinal uses of the plant.

Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteraceae) Benth S. Moore Leaves Fractions Attenuate Dyslipidemia and Atherogenic Indices in Diabetic Rats

“…The hexane fraction of C. crepidioides was previously characterized by GC-MS, and it identified the presence of n-hexadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic methyl ester, and alpha-linolenic acid with lipid-lowering effects. [33] Histopathological analysis of the pancreatic tissues of the experimental rats revealed that the islet of Langerhans of the STZ-induced rats developed degenerative changes that led to shrinkage, which decreased the number of islet cells compared to the normal control rats. Similar to Li et al, [49] who performed a morphometric analysis of the islet endocrine cells in STZ-induced type I diabetes, reported that the area of the islet cells decreased by up to 35%, the number of insulin-positive beta cells gradually decreased, and the number of alpha cells increased by 2-3 times per islet area.…”

“…The hexane fraction was analyzed for the phytochemical constituents using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and has been reported. [33]…”

“…The findings of the phytochemical analysis of the C. crepidioides leaf hexane fraction have previously been reported. [33] However, some compounds identified with potential hypolipidemic activities based on literature [42] are listed in Table 1.…”