QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF GUIERA SENEGALENSIS J.F. GMEL ADANS. EX JUSS (COMBRETACEAE) LEAF

Abstract

Guiera Senegalensis (Combretaceae) is one of the important medicinal charms but despite its tremendous medicinal value, less information is available on the physicochemical and FTIR characterization of the plant. This study aimed to screen the phytochemical composition of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts by keeping in view the pharmacological importance of the leaves of Guiera Senegalensis (GS). Additionally, the study aimed to identify the functional phytochemical groups of the powdered leaves and extracts by performing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as well as the physicochemical characterization. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies conclude that the peak value characteristic indicates the presence of several functional groups of important bioactive compounds in the powdered leaves as well as the extracts. The FTIR analysis of GS conforms to the presence of alcohols, phenols, alkanes, ketones, aldehydes, aromatic compounds, and carboxylic acids using the peak values of functional groups in the different solvent systems. The phytochemical screening (PS) revealed the presence of primary (carbohydrates, proteins) and secondary (flavonoids, phenols, cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids, and steroids) metabolites in high and moderate amounts among all the extracts. Physicochemical analysis revealed the estimate of total ash (6.33 ± 0.33 % w/w), water-soluble ash (2.83 ± 0.17 % w/w), and acid-insoluble ash (1.00 ± 0.29 % w/w) in the leaf and the lower content (7.67 ± 0.17 % w/w) of moisture. The value of pH ranged from 4.30 to 4.95. The maximum extractive value was reported in the methanol extracts (28.80 ± 0.80 %) of GS leaf. The quality assessment of the plant was done and the data obtained would serve as a benchmark for use in the future.