Journal Article

GC-MS analysis of Phytoconstituents and Aphrodisiac Activity of the Root Extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum and Thonn

Abstract

Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. (Connaraceae) (Short pod) is commonly found and widely used in many medicinal preparations for ailments in several parts of West and Central African countries. It is particularly used as stimulant for sexual drive in man. Previously, various parts of this plant were reported for treating different types of diseases, however there were no reports on GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate fraction of this plant part. This study analyzed and identified the phytoconstituents of the ethyl acetate fraction of Byrsocarpus coccineus root extract using GC-MS analysis. The ground plant material was extracted with 70% methanol using maceration method. The crude extract was fractioned into soluble fractions. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction were carried out according to standard procedures. The crude extract and the ethyl acetate fraction were screened for aphrodisiac activity. The extract yield was; crude 88.95%, n-Hexane 10.76%, ethyl acetate 25.00%, dichloromathane 20.40% and aqueous 36.40% respectively. The phytoconstituents present in both crude and ethyl acetate fraction include tannins, flavonoids, saponins, anthroquinones, steroids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloid respectively, except for phlobatannins that was absent in both. The crude and ethyl acetate fraction of Byrsocarpus coccineus root were subjected to aphrodisiac activity using wistar male albino rats. Both showed more activity at higher concentration (400 mg/kg body weight) on male wistar albino rats as evidenced by an increase in number of mounts mating performance. The activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was more in all the doses tested than the crude extract, which is an indication that the ethyl acetate fraction contains more concentrated of the phytoconstituents responsible for sexual drive. The ethyl acetate fraction been the most active fraction was subjected to GC-MS test for identification phytochsmicals. The GC-MS analysis showed thirty (30) peaks of different phytoconstituents amongst them are: 2-cyclohexen-1-one, catechol, 2-amino imidazole-5-propionoic acid, 4-methoxybenzene-1, 2-diol, hydrocoumarin, 2, 4-dimethoxyphenol and 2, 6-hydrobenzaldehyde. These phytocompounds may be responsible for the aphrodisiac activity of Byrsocarpus coccineus root extract. Some of these identified compounds were reported as having antimicrobial activities, which justifies the use of the root extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus for the treatment of various ailments by traditional practitioner. Therefore, the phytoconstituents present in the ethyl acetate fraction of Byrsocarpus coccineus root may be beneficial for patients suffering sexual disorders as proclaimed by the traditional healers.

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