DETERMINATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE FRESH LEAVES Polyalthia longifolia

Abstract

Inability of human being to have access to a conventional medical facilities has been a major world problem. Herbal medicine has become alternatives to conventional because the sources are natural, cheap and readily available. Polyalthia longifolia is an herbal plant which is used to treat gonorrhea, fever, ulcer, hypertension and rheumatism. This work aims at determining the chemical composition of the essential oil of the fresh leaves of Polyalthia longifolia. Its leaves were obtained from the Department of Plant Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye. The leaves were identified and authenticated at herbarium Department of Botany, University of Ibadan. Essential oil of the leaves was obtained by hydro distillation using glass Clevenger apparatus. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of fresh leaves essential oil was done using Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty seven different compounds were identified. Major compounds present are: 2-methyltetracosane , 7.95%, longifolene , 7.88%, Naphthalene,1,2,3,4a,5,8a-octahydro-4a, ;p 7.47% of the compounds identified. Minor compounds are Dodecane, 3.98%, cyclohexasiloxane, 3.43%, undecane 3,7-dimethyl ,3.43% and citral , 2.78% of the
total compound extraction . Alloaromadendren occur in trace, 1.25%. The results showed that the essential oil of Polyalthia longifolia contained different class of organic compounds.