Chemical analysis and GC-MS characterization of ether fraction from persea americana seed

Abstract

The use of herbal medicines as alternative to orthodox medicines have
given rise to many research methods of evaluating the medicinal values
of most plant kingdoms so that their safety profiles can be ascertained.
Hence, this study investigates phytochemical screening and isolation of
alkaloid from the methanol extract of Persea americana (Avocado pear)
seed. The dried seeds were pulverized and mixed with methanol solvent
in a soxhlet extractor to obtain crude extract that was subjected to
phytochemical screening using standard methods while a portion of it
was subjected to physical separation to isolate the basic alkaloid
fraction. The results indicated the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids,
glycosides, terpenoids, steroids and phenolics. The GC-MS indicated
hexadecamide (Rt: 26.43 31.21%), 9-octadecamide (Rt: 28.21; 17.80%)
and oleic ester (Rt: 30.80; 26.78%) as major components. Minor
components detected were oleic acid (Rt: 26.00; 0.29%), 1, 15-
pentadecandiol (Rt: 29.86, 0.5%), a long chain alcohol. The presence of
these phytochemicals suggests that the seed of Persea americana when
subjected to pharmacological studies will be of immense medicinal value