Objective: To explore the phytochemical constituents from petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of Moringa oleifera (M.oleifera) roots using GC/GC-MS.Methods: A total of 5.11 kg fresh and undried crushed root of M.oleifera were cut into small pieces and extracted with petroleum ether and dichloromethane (20 L each) at room temperature for 2 d.
The concentrated extracts were subjected to their GC-MS analysis.Results: The GC-MS analysis of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of M.oleifera roots, which showed promising biological activities, has resulted in the identification festool fs-wa/90 102 compounds.These constituents belong to 15 classes of compounds including hydrocarbons, fatty acids, esters, alcohols, isothiocyanate, thiocyanate, pyrazine, aromatics, alkamides, cyanides, steroids, halocompounds, urea and N-hydroxyimine derivatives, unsaturated alkenamides, alkyne and indole.GC/GC-MS studies on petroleum ether extract of the roots revealed that it contained 39 compounds, belonging to nine classes.
Cyclooctasulfur S8 has been isolated as a pure compound from the extract.The major compounds identified from petroleum ether extract were trans-13-docosene (37.9%), nonacosane (32.6%), cycloartenol nuage sofa (28.6%) nonadecanoic acid (13.
9%) and cyclooctasulfur S8 (13.9%).Dichloromethane extract of the roots was composed of 63 compounds of which nasimizinol (58.8%) along with oleic acid (46.5%), N-benzyl-N-(7-cyanato heptanamide (38.
3%), N-benzyl-N-(1-chlorononyl) amide (30.3%), bis [3-benzyl prop-2-ene]-1-one (19.5%) and N, N-dibenzyl-2-ene pent 1, 5-diamide (11.6%) were the main constituents.Conclusions: This study helps to predict the formula and structure of active molecules which can be used as drugs.
This result also enhances the traditional usage of M.oleifera which possesses a number of bioactive compounds.