GC-MS Analysis of the Ethanol Extract of Tragia plukenetii R. Smith

Abstract

A medicinal herb can be viewed as a synthetic laboratory as it produces and contains a number of chemical compounds. Gas Chromatography (GC) and Mass Spectroscopy (MS) can be used to study Traditional Medicines and characterize the compound of interest. Tragia plukenetii R.Smith is herb distributed in hill slopes of southern peninsular India. The root is diaphoretic and alterative and is given for fevers to cause perspiration. Sterols, triterpenes, polar and other constituents in whole plant of Tragia plukenetii were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Over 38 compounds were identified. Sitosterol and stigmasterol were the most abundant of sterols identified in the sterol fraction.