GC–MS analysis of bioactive compounds present in different extracts of an endemic plant Broussonetia luzonica (Blanco) (Moraceae) leaves

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Franelyne Pataueg Casuga, Agnes Llamasares Castillo, Mary Jho-Anne Tolentino Corpuz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016
• Subjects: Broussonetia luzonica (Blanco); Selective sequential extraction; GC–MS analysis; Endemic; Percolation; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic; Blanco
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.08.015; https://doaj.org/article/636fca9dfb004fcfa35d82fe67f2ea5b

Objective: To investigate and characterize the chemical composition of the different crude extracts from the leaves of Broussonetia luzonica (Blanco) (Moraceae) (B. luzonica), an endemic plant in the Philippines. Methods: The air dried leaves were powdered and subjected to selective sequential extraction using solvents of increasing polarity through percolation, namely, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol to obtain three different extracts. Then, each of the extracts was further subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results: Qualitative determination of the different biologically active compounds from crude extracts of B. luzonica using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed different types of high and low molecular weight chemical entities with varying quantities present in each of the extracts. These chemical compounds are considered biologically and pharmacologically important. Furthermore, the three different extracts possess unique physicochemical characteristics which may be attributed to the compounds naturally present in significant quantities in the leaves of B. luzonica. Conclusions: The three extracts possess major bioactive compounds that were identified and characterized spectroscopically. Thus, identification of different biologically active compounds in the extracts of B. luzonica leaves warrants further biological and pharmacological studies.