GC-MS ANALYSIS OF BIO-ACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN METHANOL EXTRACTS OF PRUNUS DULCIS (ALMOND) LEAVES AND HULL.

Abstract

Almonds are tree nuts recognized as a healthy snack and known to be a good source of protein, monosaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber. The purpose of the study is to identify some bio-active substances in methanol extracts of Prunus dulcis leaves and hull. The leaves and hull of Prunus dulcis were collected at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Abusi Campus, of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state. They were sun dried for seven days, dried in an oven at 103 0C. The dried leaves and hull samples were pulverized into fine powders with mortar and pestle while 2 mm mesh sieve was used to filter the sample. Twenty grams of the samples were extracted with 250 mL of methanol at 60 oC for 8 hours using soxhlet extractor. The methanol extracts of Prunus dulcis leaves and hull were filtered through Whatmann No. 1 filter paper respectively. The compounds identified from GC-MS analysis of the leaves extract were 2-Pyrrolidinone (3.273%), 1-methyl, Phorone (5.603%), Cyclohexanecarboxlyic acid, (23.995%), Diethyl Phthalate (15.456%), Ar-Tumerone (2.758%), Cyclopentadecanone (2.295%), Oleic Acid (2.408%), Cis-7, cis-11-hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (1.268%), 3-Eicosene (2.581%), 2-Propionyloxytetradecane (4.903%). Eucalypo (1.320%), Caryophyllene (2.616%), Humullene (0.514%), Ar-Tumerone (0.318%), 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (0.730%), and tricyclo[2.2.1.0,(2,6)] heptane 1,3 were confirmed in methanol extract of the hull. Ar-Tumerone which is present in Prunus dulcis leaves and hull can be used as dietary supplement for variety of conditions like arthritis, digestive disorder and respiratory infections.