GC-MS and FTIR analyses of bioactive compounds present in ethanol leaf extract of Sida acuta from Imo State, Nigeri

Medicinal plants are vital to human and community health. This work aimed at using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to determine the phytochemical contents of ethanol leaf extract of Sida acuta from Imo State, Nigeria. Leaves of Sida acuta were collected, washed, air-dried, and pulverized. Pulverized leaves were extracted in 100% ethanol at 70°C in a water bath. Bioactive compounds from the extract were analyzed using Agilent Technologies GC equipment and Buck Scientific M530 USA FTIR. The GC-MS Screening of the plant’s extract revealed the presence of seventy-one (71) phytocompounds including gamma-terpinene (1.11%), p-cymene (0.29%), linalool (2.45%), alpha-cubebene (0.11%), alpha-copaene (1.34%), aromadendrene (6.21%), humulene (1.90%), alpha-selinine, guaiol (0.58%), phytol (0.11%), butyl-2-ethylhexylphthalate (0.32%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (0.40%),  1-docosene (0.36%), 1,4-dichlorobenzene (0.22%), (e)-.beta.-farnesene (10.87%), and piperine (0.61%), which are reported to exhibit various biological activities. The FTIR analysis of the plant extract revealed functional groups such as Primary (1°) and Secondary (2°) amines, alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides, carboxylic acids, allenes, aromatics, aliphatic amines, esters, ethers, phenols, and aldehydes. Cross-referencing the phytocompounds with literature revealed a variety of biological functions, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antitumor, and others. It may be concluded that Sida acuta contains bioactive compounds with anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti-carcinogenic properties, with (E). beta.-farnesene being the most abundant (10.87%).