Study of the Fatty Acid Composition of Diospyros mespiliformis Plant Leaves

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid composition of the plant's leaves. Diospyros mespiliformis is a plant used in traditional medicine for various therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. The plant's leaves, infused, decocted or applied as a plaster, are used to treat rheumatism, wounds and coughs. They are also used as a dressing to prevent infection. (Ramadwa and Meddows-Taylor., 2023, Ahmed and Mahmud., 2017, Diouf et al., 2025, Diouf et al., 2025). Fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and for their ability to combat cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, autoimmune disorders (lupus, nephropathy), Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, polyarthritis, rheumatism, asthma, multiple sclerosis, depression, diabetes and more. For all these reasons, the study of fatty acids in the plant's leaves was carried out in order to elucidate their molecular structures and to see their possible implications in the biological properties attributed to the leaves, but also the advantages that the fatty acid composition may offer for other purposes. A total of 8 fatty acids were detected. The results revealed respective fatty acid contents in descending order of palmitic acid (33.46%), \(\alpha\)-linolenic acid (19.03l%), stearic acid (13.64%), vaccenic acid (9.957%), linoleic acid (8.529%), palmitoleic acid (6.554%), myristic acid (5.784%), arachidic acid (2.777%).