Abstract

This study sought to identify phenolics present in the seeds of Monodora myristica and Monodora tenuifolia by Gas chromatography (GC) coupled to Flame ionization detector (FID). GC-FID analysis identified fifty-three different types of phenolics in both M. myristica and M. tenuifolia seeds. Predominant phenolics are Myristicin (RT: 13.78), Caffeic acid (RT: 14.16), Safrole (RT: 11.37), Methyl Eugenol (RT: 12.32), Catechin (RT: 3.63), Elemicin (RT: 13.69), Quercetin (RT: 25.05), Kaempherol (RT: 21.52), Methyl Isoeugenol (RT: 12.69) and Eugenol (RT: 11.70). It was observed that M. myristica is rich in Myristicin (42.60%), Caffeic acid (23.39%), Elemicin (3.82%) and Eugenol (1.02%), while M. tenuifolia is rich in Safrole (11.86%), Methyl Eugenol (6.28%), Catechin (5.27%), Quercetin (2.97%), Kaempherol (2.27%) and Methyl Isoeugenol (1.45%). However, the two species of Monodora contained virtually the same kinds of phenolics but in varying quantities with M. myristica having a higher total phenolic content (1478.32 mg/100 g) than M. tenuifolia (1171.52 mg/100 g). Both species are promising sources of phenolics.

Key words: Monodora myristica, Monodora tenuifolia, phenolics.