TLC Analysis and GC-MS Profiling of Hexane Extract of Syzygium guineense Leaf

Introduction: Syzygium guineense leaf and bark of are used for the treatment of tuberculosis, chronic diarrhea, cough, dysentery, malaria, amenorrhea, wounds, ulcers, rheumatism and infections. Material and Method: The various compounds in the n-hexane extract of the leaf were analysed by TLC and identified by GC-MS technique. The TLC results indicated that four (4) terpenes are present in hexane extracts of the leaf of Syzygium guineense after treating TLC plates with vanillin-Conc.H2SO4. Results: The results of the GC-MS analysis revealed twelve (12) compounds in the n-hexane extract of Syzygium guineense leaf. These are 1-ethyl-2-methylbenzene (2.61%), Ylangene (2.42%), decahydro-4amethyl-1-methylene-7-(1-methylethynyl)-naphthalene (γ-muurolone) (2.47%), 4-dimethyl-7-(1methylethenyl)azulene(2.06%), caryophyllene oxide(3.86%), myristic acid (2.11%), n-hexadecenoic acid (11.94%), 9-octadecanoic acid (25.72%), tetratriacontane (31.45%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (2.71%), tetratriacontane (6.70%) and pentatriacontane (3.95%). These compounds fall into three classes; terpene/terpenoids, organic acids and hydrocarbons with the major compounds been the organic acids 42.48%. Hydrocarbons constituent 42.1% of the extract while only 0.38% constitute terpenes/terpenoids. Conclusion: The results of this study offer a basis of using S. guineense leaf as an alternative medicinal agent as anti-inflammatory analgesic, antipyretic and platelet-inhibitory actions.