PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND GC-MS ANALYSIS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF THE LEAVES OF MANGIFERA INDICA AND FLEURYA AESTUANS AND ROOTS OF CYNODON DACTYLON

Abstract

Traditional use of Mangifera indica, Cynodon dactylon and Fleurya aestuans for urinary ailments suggests bioactive phytochemicals that may underlie anti‑urolithic effects. The objective of this research is to perform qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and GC‑MS profiling of ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Mangifera indica (MIL) and Fleurya aestuans (FAL) as well as roots of Cynodon dactylon (CDR). Dried powders of each plant sample (500 g each) were extracted in 95% ethanol by maceration, concentrated and stored. Standard qualitative tests and quantitative colorimetric assays (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, phenols, steroids, terpenoids) were performed in triplicate. GC‑MS analysis was used to identify major volatile/semi‑volatile constituents. Qualitative screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids and glycosides in all three extracts; alkaloids were present only in Mangifera indica leaves. Quantitative results (mean ± SEM) showed the highest flavonoid content in Mangifera indica leaves (9.33 ± 0.42) and the highest phenolic content in Cynodon dactylon roots (7.36 ± 0.35). GC‑MS of Mangifera indica leaves identified (-)-carvone as the dominant peak (57.48% area); Cynodon dactylon roots GC‑MS also showed a dominant carvone peak (57.35% area). Fleurya aestuans leaves chromatograms were dominated by fatty acid methyl esters. Several terpenes and fatty acids were detected.  The three plants present distinct phytochemical fingerprints; the abundance of carvone in Mangifera indica leaves, Cynodon dactylon roots, and Fleurya aestuans leaves provides a chemical rationale for further bioactivity testing and for the anti‑urolithic activity observed in vivo.