GC-MS PROFILING OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Annona squamosa L. LEAVES

Abstract

Annona squamosa L., commonly known as custard apple, is a medicinal plant used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its leaves contain a wide array of phytochemicals with potential therapeutic benefits. In this study, ethanol was employed as the extraction solvent to isolate bioactive phytochemicals from the leaves of A. squamosa. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted to characterize the volatile and semi-volatile components present in the ethanol extract. Leaves of A. squamosa were collected, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted with ethanol. The resulting extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to identify the phytochemical constituents based on retention time and spectral comparison with standard databases. A total of 21 compounds were identified. Major constituents included 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (13.09%), caryophyllene (9.36%), neophytadiene (8.56%), cyclohexanone (7.43%), and ethanol, 2-butoxy (6.20%). Many of the identified compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties. The results suggest that the ethanol extract of A. squamosa leaves is a rich source of biologically active compounds, supporting its traditional use in herbal medicine. Further pharmacological and toxicological investigations are recommended.