Nutritive Composition and GC- MS Analysis of Bioactive Phytochemicals from the Methanolic Extracts of the Stem and Root of Tephrosia vogelii

Aims: This study was aimed at investigating the nutritive composition and bioactive compounds in the methanol extracts of root and stem of Tephoresia vogelii.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Samples were collected in K- Vom community in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria between April and May 2023.

Methodology: Sample extractions were carried out using maceration method. phytochemical screening and nutritive composition were carried out using standard methods while the bioactive compounds were detected using GC-MS technique. Phytochemicals were ascertained based on molecular weights (m/z) acquired from GC-MS chromatograms. Phytocompounds were established through interpretation of spectral peaks and comparing data with stored databases from the National Institute Standard and Technique (NIST) library.

Results: The extracts had variable percentage yield with methanol root extract having the highest (3.80%). The results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence and absence of some phytochemicals while the proximate composition varied significantly (P=0.002). The moisture content was in the range of (6.75 to 9.50%), protein (8.99 to 11.56%), crude fiber (2.00 to 7.33%), fat content (47.33 to 51.06%), ash content (15.80 to 17.60%) and carbohydrate (8.33 to 13.84%) in the methanol extracts of the root and stem. Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry, (GC-MS) determined some specific phytocompounds in the extracts, GC-MS analysis furnished a combined total of 14 phytocompounds in the two extracts with unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acids being the major families detected.

Conclusion: The extracts upon analysis revealed high potential for a vast number of bioactive compounds which justifies its use for various ailments by traditional practitioners. Phytochemical components identified in this study advocate the presence of ethnomedical and phytopharmaceutical versality of each of the extracts which could be used in the therapeutic drug formulation studies.