The Biobrio 12(3&4), 2025

GCMS analysis of root extracts of Elephantopus scaber L. using chloroform and petroleum ether

Preeti Mishra & Jyoti Kumar

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this study was to identify bioactive compounds present in the chloroform and petroleum ether root extracts of Elephantopus scaber L. using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Air-dried leaves of Elephantopus scaber L. were powdered and initially extracted with methanol. The dried methanolic extract was subsequently partitioned using chloroform and petroleum ether. Both extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis for compound identification. The most abundant compound identified was Lupeol (25.56%), detected at a retention time (RT) of 29.935 min. The second major constituent was Lup-20(29)-en-3-one (24.51%) at RT 29.588 min. Other significant triterpenoids included Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol acetate (3?-) (7.35%), β-Amyrone (7.06%), and β-Amyrin (2.04%). The collective abundance of these lupane-type compounds accounted for more than 65% of the total extract composition. GC-MS analysis of the petroleum ether root extract led to the identification of 44 compounds, representing 100% of the total chromatographic area. The most abundant peak corresponded to Phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) phosphite (3:1) (56.17%), followed by Tris(2,4-di-tertbutylphenyl) phosphate (9.64%). These compounds are commonly reported as synthetic antioxidants or plastic-derived contaminants in GC-MS analyses and therefore should be interpreted cautiously as non-native phytochemical constituents. GC-MS analysis showed the chloroform root extract was rich in Lupane-type triterpenoids, dominated by Lupeol (25.56%) and Lup-20(29)-en-3-one (24.51%). In contrast, the petroleum ether extract was dominated by synthetic phosphite antioxidants, likely contaminants, indicating chloroform as the superior solvent for isolating bioactive triterpenoids. The chloroform root extract, exhibits strong antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anticancer activities. The petroleum ether extracts shows antioxidant, chemo preventive, and mild antimicrobial properties, though major peaks suggest possible contaminant-derived activity.

Keywords:    

Bioactive compounds, Triterpenoids, Antioxidant

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