2020, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A

author(s)
Bekinbo MT, Amah-Tariah FS and Dapper DV

abstract
Over 80% of the world’s population depends on herbal products for their primary healthcare requirements. The therapeutic potentials of many of these herbal products have been documented, however, more studies are needed to properly screen, identify and possibly characterize their various active ingredients. The present study attempts a comparative gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination of the bioactive constituents of the methanolic extracts of Curcuma longa rhizomes and Spondias mombin leaves. Results obtained indicated that although the extracts of both plants possess similar bioactive compounds: aromatic turmerone (ar-turmerone); turmerone and; cur lone the most abundant compounds were found to be aromatic turmerone for Curcuma longa and pentadecanoic acid for Spondias mombin. The possible biological effects of the identified compounds in both extracts are highlighted. Our findings provide rationale for the anecdotal use of both plants for treatment of similar medical conditions in our environment.