PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CRUDE EXTRACTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS FROM OCIMUM SANCTUM LEAVES FROM NIGERIA

Abstract

The phytochemicals of aqueous, methanol, ethanol and n-hexane crude extracts and GC-MS of the essential oils obtained by hydro-distillation and solvent extraction methods of Ocimum sanctum leaves grown in Nigeria were determined in the present study. Phytochemical analysis showed that the leaves contained saponins, terpernoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, phlobatannins and tannins. The highest contents of phenol and steroid were found in the ethanol and hexane extracts of Ocimum sanctum; 10.83 and 13.38 mg/100g respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 24 and 13 volatile compounds in oils extracted by hydro-distillation and solvent extraction respectively. Essential oil constituents varied by both methods.The phenyl propanoid compound present in highest quantity in both oil extracts is eugenol, 20.95 % by hydro-distillation and 83.47 % by solvent extraction methods. Solvent extraction is a more excellent method for extracting high content of the major active constituent (eugenol) present in the essential oil of O. sanctum