Evaluation of biologically active constituents of ethanol extracts of <em>H. verticillata</em> leave, <em>L. aestuans </em>leave and seeds of <em>L. aestuans</em>

Abstract

There has been a great interest in the study of products of natural origin as an alternative and an adjunct to the chemically synthesized drugs for various therapeutic roles owing to the vast array of their medicinal activities and structural differences that abound in plants secondary metabolites. The preliminary analysis of the phytonutrients presents in the ethanol extracts of Hydrocotyle verticillata and Laportea aestuans showed the presence of saponins, various classes of alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Steroids, Phenolic chemicals, Tannins, Flavonoids, but Coumarins, Proteins and Quinines were lacking in both extracts. Noteworthy is that, tannins and alkaloids were predominant compared to other phytochemicals in the ethanol extract of Hydrocotyle verticillata leave. In the same vain, tannins and alkaloids were the more abundant phytochemicals in the Laportea aestuans leave extract. Analysis of the extract using combined chromatographic and spectrometric (GCMS) approach of Hydrocotyle verticillata leaves identified 3 major chemicals in descending order as 3. beta. 17.beta.-dihydroxyestr-4-ene [10.89%]; Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester [7.49%]; and 1-Methylbicyclo [3.2.1] octane [7.28%]. On the other hand, the 3 highest occurring chemical compounds identified in the ethanol extract of L. aestuans leaves are Diazoprogesterone [9.45%]; hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester [8.29%]; and linoleic acid ethyl ester [7.31%]. It has been established that these chemical constituents were found to exert useful biological effects ranging from cellular, anticarcinogenic, anti-cholinergic effects, antioxidant, virus antagonists, anti-inflammatory as well as having profound effects on bacterial infections. Due to the numerous listed biological effects, the extracts could be used as an adjunct in a diverse number of diseases.