Phytochemical Profiling and HPLC Quantification of Bioactive Compounds in Hyptis suaveolens, Cymbopogon citratus, and Eucalyptus globulus from Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and quantify the phytochemicals and bioactive compounds detectable from the leaves of three medicinal plants: Hyptis suaveolens (Bushmint), Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass), and Eucalyptus globulus (Blue gum), collected from Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methanol extraction was performed using a Soxhlet apparatus, followed by fractionation via column chromatography and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to quantify the phytoconstituents. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of significant levels of various phytochemicals. Alkaloids and Anthraquinone were the most abundant and highest in E. globulus (11.1 mg/100g and 11.05 mg/100g respectively), while tannins were most abundant in H. suaveolens (9.84 mg/100g) and C. citratus (8.56 mg/100g). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified and quantified eleven (11) major bioactive compounds. Hyptis suaveolens recorded the highest concentrations for 10 compounds. Flavonoids were the most prominent bioactive compounds found in all three plants constituting approximately 54.37%, 48.69% and 55.92% of the total quantified bioactive compounds in Eucalyptus globulus, Hyptis suaveolens, and Cymbopogon citratus respectively. Hyptis suaveolens extract showed remarkably high concentrations of lunamarin (76.32 µg/ml), ribalinidine (64.08 µg/ml), gallocatechin (48.58 µg/ml), and flavonone (33.45 µg/ml). The results confirmed that these plants, especially H. suaveolens, are rich sources of diverse bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological value, justifying their traditional uses and suggesting further investigation into their therapeutic applications.