Phytochemical analysis of Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis: A comparative study

Abstract

Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum are herbs used in many parts of the world as spice, food and medicine. To evaluate the phytochemical components, the aqueous extracts of the leaves of Allium fistulosum and fleshy leaves of Allium cepa were used. The phytochemical components of both plants were evaluated and compared using GC-MS analysis. There were ten (10) bioactive components in Allium cepa revealed by GC-MS analysis which are majorly 16- Deoxo-5,6-dihydrokryptogenin diformate (Retention Time (RT): 32.245 minutes, Molecular. Weight (mol. wt).: 474, yield: 30.636%), acetic acid, dichloro- (RT: 3.280-3.349, mol. wt.: 128, yield: 12.710%), 9-eicosene, (E)- (RT: 33.033, mol. wt.: 280, yield: 7.139%) and others with less than 6% yield. Whereas, in Allium fistulosum, five (5) bioactive components were present and D-limonene (RT: 6.694, mol. wt.: 136, yield: 98.942%) as the main component. acetic acid, dichloro- was common in both plants but higher in Allium cepa (12.710%) than Allium fistulosum (0.484%). It is therefore concluded that A. cepa and A. fistulosum possess different and diverse phytochemical compounds that could be responsible for their biological activities.