Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Phytochemical screening, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and
GC-MS evaluation of crude acetonic extracts of Prosopis juliflora
M.P. Odero & A.K. Kiprop
Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textile and Renewable Energy (ACE-PTRE II), Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
I.O. K’ Owino
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
M. Arimi
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Commonly referred to as the Mathenge plant in Kenya, the plant Prosopis juliflora has been
considered as a noxious weed within the boundaries of Kenya occupying ASAL lands, colonizing water bodies
and affecting livestock by the blocking of their rumens, causing diarrhoea and in some cases leading to the loss
of teeth which eventually leads to death. Despite these disadvantages, the plant has been identified in several
nations as a plant of great medicinal value being used for the treatment of eye problems, digestive problems, lung
problems, and sore throats among other ailments. These medicines have mainly been extracted from the pods,
leaves and bark. Acetonic extracts of the heartwood have in recent research been shown to be high in flavonoid
content with mesquitol being an isolated compound of interest. This is because mesquitol, in comparison to the
existing antioxidants such as catechin, probucol and alpha-tocopherol has been shown to have better antioxidant
and radical scavenging properties potentials hence it can be useful for managing diseases such as cancer and
diabetes. With the heartwood being significantly different from the other parts of the plant, limited research
has been done on the phytochemicals present, their total flavonoid contents, total phenolic content and potential
medicinal uses. Phytochemical screening of acetonic extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids,
terpenoids, steroids, tannins and no saponins. The total flavonoid content was 33.7 ± 1.22 while the total phenolic
content was 53.5 ± 2.6 GAE. GC-MS evaluation of the crude extracts identified five potential compounds
namely 2(4H)-benzofuranone,5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl; 2(4H)-benzofuranone 5,6,7,7a-tetra hydro4,4,7a-trimethyl-(R); cyclopentane-carboxylic acid 3-(3-fluorophenylcarbamoyl)-1,2,2-trimethyl; 6,6-dimethyl10-methylene-1-oxa-spiro[4.5] decane; and 2-pentanol, 2,4-dimethyl.
1 INTRODUCTION
The need for survival of plants in different environments over the evolution of time has led to the development of different mechanisms of survival, including
the development of phytochemicals. Different plant
extractives have different uses with some being medicinal or repellents, while others are poisonous (Azevedo
et al., 2018). The Prosopis juliflora plant, also referred
to as the honey mesquite plant, is a hardy and woody
tree belonging to the genus Prosopis. In Kenya, it is
commonly referred to as the mathenge plant and grows
primarily in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya
(Sathiya & Muthuchelian, 2011).
Due to its potential as a medicinal plant, and the
unusually high amounts of flavonoids in its heartwood, P. juliflora has elicited a lot of curiosity within
the scientific community. Whereas mesquitol, catechin, and 4
-O-methylgallocatechin have previously
been isolated from the acetonic extracts of heartwood (Chepkwony et al., 2020; Sirmah, 2009), limited
knowledge exists as to the phytochemicals present,
their total flavonoid content, and their total phenolic content, which are major pointers to its medicinal
potential.
In this study, we have undertaken phytochemical
screening, measurement of total flavonoid content and
total phenolic content, and GC-MS evaluation of the
acetonic extracts of the heartwood of P. juliflora.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
The Prosopis juliflora plant, locally referred to as
“mathenge” is a noxious weed, having been listed
among the top 100 most undesirable plant species. This
is because it is known to occupy vast areas of lands
170
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-23
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Phytochemical screening, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and
GC-MS evaluation of crude acetonic extracts of Prosopis juliflora
M.P. Odero & A.K. Kiprop
Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textile and Renewable Energy (ACE-PTRE II), Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
I.O. K’ Owino
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
M. Arimi
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Commonly referred to as the Mathenge plant in Kenya, the plant Prosopis juliflora has been
considered as a noxious weed within the boundaries of Kenya occupying ASAL lands, colonizing water bodies
and affecting livestock by the blocking of their rumens, causing diarrhoea and in some cases leading to the loss
of teeth which eventually leads to death. Despite these disadvantages, the plant has been identified in several
nations as a plant of great medicinal value being used for the treatment of eye problems, digestive problems, lung
problems, and sore throats among other ailments. These medicines have mainly been extracted from the pods,
leaves and bark. Acetonic extracts of the heartwood have in recent research been shown to be high in flavonoid
content with mesquitol being an isolated compound of interest. This is because mesquitol, in comparison to the
existing antioxidants such as catechin, probucol and alpha-tocopherol has been shown to have better antioxidant
and radical scavenging properties potentials hence it can be useful for managing diseases such as cancer and
diabetes. With the heartwood being significantly different from the other parts of the plant, limited research
has been done on the phytochemicals present, their total flavonoid contents, total phenolic content and potential
medicinal uses. Phytochemical screening of acetonic extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids,
terpenoids, steroids, tannins and no saponins. The total flavonoid content was 33.7 ± 1.22 while the total phenolic
content was 53.5 ± 2.6 GAE. GC-MS evaluation of the crude extracts identified five potential compounds
namely 2(4H)-benzofuranone,5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl; 2(4H)-benzofuranone 5,6,7,7a-tetra hydro4,4,7a-trimethyl-(R); cyclopentane-carboxylic acid 3-(3-fluorophenylcarbamoyl)-1,2,2-trimethyl; 6,6-dimethyl10-methylene-1-oxa-spiro[4.5] decane; and 2-pentanol, 2,4-dimethyl.
1 INTRODUCTION
The need for survival of plants in different environments over the evolution of time has led to the development of different mechanisms of survival, including
the development of phytochemicals. Different plant
extractives have different uses with some being medicinal or repellents, while others are poisonous (Azevedo
et al., 2018). The Prosopis juliflora plant, also referred
to as the honey mesquite plant, is a hardy and woody
tree belonging to the genus Prosopis. In Kenya, it is
commonly referred to as the mathenge plant and grows
primarily in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya
(Sathiya & Muthuchelian, 2011).
Due to its potential as a medicinal plant, and the
unusually high amounts of flavonoids in its heartwood, P. juliflora has elicited a lot of curiosity within
the scientific community. Whereas mesquitol, catechin, and 4
-O-methylgallocatechin have previously
been isolated from the acetonic extracts of heartwood (Chepkwony et al., 2020; Sirmah, 2009), limited
knowledge exists as to the phytochemicals present,
their total flavonoid content, and their total phenolic content, which are major pointers to its medicinal
potential.
In this study, we have undertaken phytochemical
screening, measurement of total flavonoid content and
total phenolic content, and GC-MS evaluation of the
acetonic extracts of the heartwood of P. juliflora.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
The Prosopis juliflora plant, locally referred to as
“mathenge” is a noxious weed, having been listed
among the top 100 most undesirable plant species. This
is because it is known to occupy vast areas of lands
170
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-23