GC-MS based phytochemical characterization of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) and Lansium parasiticum (Langsat) for anthelmintic applications

Abstract

Helminth infections continue to pose significant challenges to both human and veterinary health, particularly in regions where access to modern anthelmintics is limited and resistance to synthetic drugs is increasing. Traditional medicinal plants offer a promising alternative owing to their diverse bioactive compounds. The present study focused on phytochemical screening of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) seeds and Lansium parasiticum (Langsat) fruit extracts using ethanol as a solvent and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for compound identification. Extraction yields were found to be relatively low with ethanol, recording 1.9% for T. ammi and 2.26% for L. parasiticum. GC-MS profiling of T. ammi revealed the presence of key compounds including oleic acid (32.62%), linoleic acid (19.33%), thymol (12.98%), and palmitic acid (9.40%), along with minor constituents such as lupeol, squalene, and stigmasterol, all of which are known for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and potential anthelmintic activities. Similarly, L. parasiticum extracts demonstrated a rich chemical profile, dominated by 1-heptadec-1-ynyl-cyclohexanol (36.55%), 7-tetradecenal (26.87%), and palmitic acid (14.19%), along with stearic acid, spiro derivatives, and sterols such as gamma-sitosterol. Many of these compounds have been reported to exhibit pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial properties. The findings highlight the chemical diversity of these two plants and support their traditional use in ethnomedicine as potential sources of novel anthelmintics. While further biological assays are needed to confirm their therapeutic efficacy, this study provides a phytochemical basis for considering T. ammi and L. parasiticum as promising candidates for developing plant-based, multi-targeted interventions against helminthic infections.