ABSTRACT
The chromatographic analysis ofAcalypha wilkesiana leaves was carried out using GC-MS and HPLC. The leaves were collected from the University of Benin, identified, air-dried for two weeks, pulverized and extracted with methanol. The extract was concentrated and subjected to phytochemical analysis then sent for GC-MS and HPLC analysis. Phytochemical studies carried out on trj£ pulverized dried leaves of the plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids and tannins. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the methanolic plant extract revealed eighteen (18) components with their respective retention time, some of which includes; Ih-1,2,4-Triazole (24.001mins), 2-Propenenitrile (25.569mins), N-Ethylformamide (25.804mins), 9-Octadecenamide (26.056mins), Pterin-6-Carboxylic acid (26.284mins), 4-Dodecanol (26.536mins), N-Desmethyltapentadol (26.817mins), Indolizine (27.183mins), Benzaldehyde (27.366mins) e.t.c. High Performance Liquid C-hromatography (HPLC) of the methanolic plant extract revealed the presence of Quinolinamine, Benzenesulfonamide, Allylamine, Benzamide and Indolizine. These compounds have been shown to have a variety of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer activity. The presence of these compounds in Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract suggests that this plant has the potential to be used for the treatment of a variety of diseases.
