Phytochemical screening and GC-MS studies on stem-bark and leaves Methanolic extract of Ficus sycomorus

Abstract

The increasing focus on natural products for curing today's ailments has led to extensive research on medicinal plants, particularly in Africa, known for its abundance of such plants. To fully utilize these plants' therapeutic potential, identification and phytochemical screening are essential first steps. Researchers are interested in the tree species Ficus sycomorus, which is a member of the Moraceae family and has important ecological, medicinal, and commercial importance. The presence or lack of different chemicals in the methanolic extracts of F. sycomorus stem bark and leaves were evaluated in this work using qualitative and quantitative analyses, FT-IR, and GC-MS. Numerous different chemicals were found in the stem bark and leaves, according to the phytochemical screening. The stem bark contained quinine, alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, chalcones, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Likewise, the leaves included quinine, saponins, tannins, terpenoids, anthocyanins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, flavonones, flavonols, phenols, phytosterols, and terpenoids. The concentrations of these substances were obtained using quantitative analysis. The amounts of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and tannins were found to be reasonably variable in both the stem bark and the leaf extract. Particular functional groups in the stem bark and leaves were found using FT-IR analysis. While the leaves included alcohols, phenols, alkenes, alkynes, aliphatic amines, and nitro groups, the stem bark displayed 1,2-amines, amide, nitro groups, alkanes, and alkyl halides. Moreover, the specific chemicals contained were revealed using GC-MS analysis. It was likely that propenamide, sucrose, pologalitol, amyl nitrite, glucose, isobutyl amine, and other chemicals were present in the stem bark. Amyl nitrate, pentanoic acid, aminoacetonitrile, propanamide, guanidine methyl, urea, and other chemicals were found in the leaves. The stem bark and leaves of F. sycomorus exhibited a wide range of phytochemicals. Compounds with possible antibacterial and antioxidant qualities were identified by the GC-MS analysis. These results highlight the significance of investigating F. sycomorus's potential for medical use for a range of ailments. New medicinal compounds may be found through further study on this plant.