Phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis of bioactive compounds present in methanolic extracts of 60 days old Nigerian Vigna Radiata leaves

Abstract

Leaves of Vigna radiata (L.) are regarded as by-products due to the relatively low emphasis attributed to them when compared to the seeds and sprouts. They are usually left on the farm as waste products or for animals to graze on them, especially here in Nigeria; therefore, the need to investigate its various phytochemical content emerged, which will result in its optimum utilization. In the present study, 60 days old Vigna radiata (L.) leaves were harvested from V. radiata plants cultivated at the National Biotechnology and Research Development Centre Abagana, Anambra State, Nigeria. They were processed and milled into flour. Part of the milled flour was subjected to preliminary quantitative phytochemical screening, which revealed the presence of steroids as the major phytochemical content out of 12 bioactive compounds assessed with a value of 19.298%. The gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) used to determine the actual bioactive compounds present in the methanolic extracts of Nigerian V. radiata leaves (MENVrL) revealed the presence of 53 bioactive compounds with 58 peaks, covering a total peak area of 100% and these compounds were identified through spectrum matching with National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST) database. 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol was identified as the major compound present in MENVrL  with a peak area of  7.66%. Further isolation of these bioactive compounds may prove the leaves a rich source of pharmaceutical, biological, and cosmetologically important raw materials, for the formulation of new effective drugs and other related products.