GC-MS bioactive compounds in Ocimum gratissimum methanol and hexane extracts a comparative study

Abstract

Bioactive compounds in medicinal plants are very important because they are the active ingredients in the plant. Therefore this work is aimed at determining the bioactive compounds in methanol and n-hexane extracts of Ocimum gratissimum using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaves of Ocimum gratissimum were dried and grounded and extracted with methanol and n-hexane separately. The extract was concentrated to a dark paste, which was later subjected to GC-MS analysis. Results revealed the presence of many compounds for example octacosane with peak number 47 retention time RT 22.521 and % area of 7.82, other extracts of Medicinal importance are 2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene RT 24.584 area % 5.51 and peak number 55, erythro-9,10-dibropentacosane with a peak number 52 RT 24.142 and % area 3.30, heneicosane has a peak number 43, RT 22.024 and % area 5.45, 2-methyloctacosane has a peak number 36 RT 20.069 and area % of 5.57.