Phytochemical analysis of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus sur Forssk (Moraceae)

Abstract

Ficus sur is a sizeable spreading tree used in traditional medicine in the treatment of anaemia, diarrhoea, wounds, malaria, haemorrhoids and epilepsy. These effects are due to the presence of different phytochemicals in the leaf. This study aims at identifying the phyto-constitutents that may be responsible for its ethno-medicinal uses. Phytochemical screening of the methanol leaf extract was achieved using standard methods. Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to identify the compounds, while High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify alkaloids. Screening the powdered leaf for phytochemicals revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and terpenoids. GC-MS analysis revealed sixty-six compounds, while HPLC analysis showed benzene sulfonamide, norethindrone, benzamide, indolizine, pyrazoline, isobutylamine, colchicine, methanamine, simulansamide, androstane and propargylamine. This study identified eleven alkaloids from the leaf of Ficus sur and these could be responsible for the observed activities exhibited by Ficus sur.