Analysis of Bioactive Chemical Compounds in the Aerial Parts of Emilia Coccinea Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Evaluation of Its Antimicrobial Potentials

Abstract

The leaves of Emilia coccinea are used traditionally in the treatment of infections. This work aims to determine the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of the aerial parts of E. coccinea. Aerial parts of E. coccinea were collected, identified, cleaned, air-dried, pulverized and extracted at room temperature. The powder sample was then screened for phytochemical using the standard method, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the compounds in the methanolic extract, which was subsequently screened against selected bacteria and fungus (candida albicans). The level of significance was set at P≤0.001 while analyzing the variance. The phytochemical test revealed saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and steroids, while the antimicrobial activity revealed zones of inhibition in the range of 16 to 21 mm for bacteria and (12±0.4) mm for the fungus used and these were statistically significant. GCMS  analysis identified forty-one compounds which include 2-furanmethanol, 4hydroxymethyl  ester benzeneacetic acid, allodromadendrene oxide-(1) and adromadendrene oxide-(2). The phytochemicals identified from the aerial parts of Emilia coccinea could be responsible for the zones of inhibition observed from the antimicrobial screening.