ABSTRACT
Azanza garckeana is a plant valued for its uses as a traditional medicine in many African nations such as Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, and Zambia. In order to detect and quantify bioactive compounds in the dichloromethane root extract of Azanza garckeana the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used. Following the extraction procedure, GC-MS analysis was performed on the Azanza garckeana dichloromethane root extract that was produced. Numerous bioactive compounds were detected in the resulting chromatogram, which were then identified via mass spectrometric analysis and comparison with existing mass spectrum libraries. Sixteen (16) bioactive compounds were identified in the dichloromethane root extract of Azanza garckeana, with eleven (11) bioactive compounds having biological activities. The highest occurring bioactive compound identified in the plant was Bicyclo [3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-one, 4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)- with a concentration of 75.56%. Methyl stearate had the least concentration of 0.47% with antioxidant property. Some other occurring bioactive compounds found in the dichloromethane root extract of Azanza garckeana with biological activities includes; Phenol, 2-methyl- (6.07%), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (4.39%), (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (2.43%), Phenol, 3-pentadecyl- (1.84%), 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (1.48%), 9,12,15-Octadecatrien-1-ol, (Z,Z,Z)- (1.03%), Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester (1.01%), Linoleic acid ethyl ester (0.72%), 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- (0.65%) and Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (0.55%) which have anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties respectively. These results substantially improve our understanding of the possible therapeutic uses of Azanza garckeana and add to our growing body of knowledge about the bioactive compounds makeup of medicinal plants.
