Abstract

The phyto-components of Calotropis procera leaves were screened by qualitative and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. C. procera R.Br. is a perennial plant abundantly found in all parts of the country (India) and wild in nature. The leaves of the plant were found to contain various primary and secondary metabolites. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides and absence of flavonoids in ethanolic extract of C. procera, while the chloroform leaf extract showed absence of flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. This work deals with the phytochemical screening and GC-MS studies of the ethanolic and chloroform leaf extracts of C. procera. In ethanol leaf extract, highest peak area (%) of 21.36 was obtained by 9-octadecenoic acid (Z), methyl ester (C₁₉H₃₆O₂) at retention time of 14.843 and the lowest peak area (%) of 0.31 was obtained by cyclohexanol-3-methyl (C₇H₁₄O) at retention time of 18.599, whereas in chloroform leaf extract, the highest peak area (%) of 33.14 was obtained by 2, 6, 10-trimethyl, 14-ethylene-14-pentadecne (C₂₀H₃₈) at retention time of 13.136 and the lowest peak area (%) of 0.78 was obtained by 2-tert-butyl-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) C₁₈H₃₀O at retention time of 10.731. The study summarizes the information concerning the phytochemical constituents present in ethanolic and chloroform leaf extracts. These constituents may be responsible for pharmacological activities.

Key words: Calotropis procera, phytochemical analysis, GC-MS, metabolites, leaves.