ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional medicine due to their rich bioactive compounds. Icacina Trichantha, commonly found in Africa, is traditionally used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Despite its ethnobotanical significance, limited phytochemical studies have been conducted to scientifically validate its medicinal potential. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is an effective analytical technique for identifying bioactive compounds in plants. This study aimed to analyze the hydro-methanol leaf extract of Icacina Trichantha using GC-MS to determine its chemical composition and potential pharmacological applications. Fresh leaves of Icacina Trichantha were collected from Ovia North East Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and identified at the University of Benin. The leaves were washed, shade-dried, and pulverized before being extracted using a hydro-methanol solvent system. The extract was filtered, concentrated, and analyzed using GC-MS to identify the bioactive compounds present in the sample. The GC-MS analysis revealed 30 bioactive compounds, including esters, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and sugar derivatives, with known pharmacological benefits such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Key compounds identified include 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester and Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, which have applications in medicine and industry. These findings support the traditional use of Icacina Trichantha and highlight its potential for drug development. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize active compounds, assess their pharmacological effects, and conduct toxicity evaluations to confirm their therapeutic value.
