Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research

GC-MS Analysis of Bioactive Components of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Amaranthus spinosus

Anozie Maduabuchi Mbazurike — 2026-03-23

Background: Medicinal plants remain an important source of biologically active compounds used in modern drug discovery. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents of Amaranthus spinosus leaf extract using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify potential bioactive compounds responsible for its pharmacological properties.

Materials and Method: Resh leaves of Amaranthus spinosus were collected, shade-dried, pulverized, and extracted using aqueous extraction methods. The crude extract was subsequently analyzed by GC–MS, and the compounds were identified based on retention time, molecular weight, molecular formula, and comparison of mass spectra with the database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Results: The GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of twenty-four phytochemical compounds with retention times ranging from 1.422 to 22.795 minutes. The identified constituents belonged to several chemical classes, including esters, lactones, fatty acid derivatives, terpenoids, aromatic compounds, and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. Among the detected compounds, 4-Methoxy-6-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-furo[3,2-c]pyran showed the highest relative abundance (11.78%), followed by 3,4-Di-O-methyl-2-deoxy-D-ribono-1,5-lactone (10.00%), Cyclohexanemethyl propanoate (6.08%), 1-Propanone, 1-[5-ethyl-3-(5-nitro-2-furanyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl] (5.72%), and 2-Naphthalenemethanol derivatives (5.26%). Other notable compounds included Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 1,3,8-p-menthatriene, and several pyrrole, pyridine, and triazole derivatives. Many of the identified compounds have previously been reported to possess important biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. The presence of these diverse phytochemical constituents supports the traditional medicinal uses of Amaranthus spinosus and suggests that the plant may exert its therapeutic effects through synergistic interactions among multiple bioactive molecules.

Conclusion: the GC–MS profiling of Amaranthus spinosus leaves showed that it is a rich source of pharmacologically relevance. The Plant has the potential in drug discovery, development and discovery. Further studies focusing on the isolation, purification, and biological evaluation of the identified compounds are recommended to fully elucidate their therapeutic potential.

Antibacterial Property and Biodegradability of Bioplastic Products from Gracilaria salicornia And Halimeda opuntia with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Kristhel C. Sister — 2026-03-31

Marine algae have attracted a great deal of interest as an excellent source of bioplastic due to their hydrocolloid properties and rich polysaccharide. This research focuses on the development of bioplastic products from Gracilaria salicornia and Halimeda opuntia with Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnONps) found in the coastal water of Alma Beach, Catarman, Northern Samar. The seaweed bioplastic products were subjected to physicochemical and antibacterial property, employing FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometer and Scanning Electron Microscopy for analytical analysis after incorporation of biosynthesized Zinc Oxide nanoparticles. The agar was extracted from Gracilaria salicornia through drying, alkaline solution treatment and boiling and freezing method. Meanwhile, the crude extraction method was used for Halimeda opuntia. The resulting films exhibited favorable mechanical property including enhanced tensile strength, elongation at break, UV resistance, and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. A micrometre calliper was used to measure the film's thickness; tensile strength and elongation at break was determined using sliver weights; solubility test was done using water, hexane and ethanol as solvents; and soil degradation under controlled conditions. Bioplastic film thicknesses measured 0.41 mm and 0.43 mm for G. salicornia and H. opuntia, respectively. The solubility test shows that both samples are soluble in water but insoluble in ethanol and hexane. The bioplastics were slightly acidic at pH 6.89–6.9 and demonstrated complete biodegradation within three days in soil when exposed to water. UV-Vis, FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed successful incorporation of ZnONps. These properties underscore the potential of seaweed-based bioplastics with ZnONps for sustainable applications in packaging, agriculture, and biomedical fields.

Quantitative Investigation of Proximate, Mineral, and Amino Acid Composition of Ganoderma sichuanense

Chukwunonso Anthony Nsude — 2026-04-03

Ganoderma sichuanense is a mushroom commonly used in traditional medicine, but information on its nutritional profiles remains insufficient. This study aimed to determine the quantitative proximate, mineral, and amino acid compositions of Ganoderma sichuanense. Proximate analysis, including the determination of carbohydrate, protein, crude fibre, fat, ash, and moisture content, was performed in accordance with the methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Mineral concentrations in the dried mushroom samples were quantified using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), whereas amino acid profiles were assessed employing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The proximate result showed that Ganoderma sichuanense had the highest carbohydrate content (57.99±0.787%), followed by moisture content (10.66±0.399%), fat (10.44±0.442%), crude fibre (9.09±0.202%), ash (7.36±0.219%) and crude protein content (4.47±0.352%). Considerable amounts of magnesium (6.012±0.044 ppm), potassium (4.852±0.018 ppm), sodium (3.782±0.087 ppm), and calcium (7.167±0.117 ppm) were recorded, while arsenic and silver were totally absent in the sample. Isoleucine, an essential amino acid, recorded the highest amino acid content (22.665 ppm), followed by threonine (13.595 ppm) and valine (8.527 ppm), while proline, a nonessential amino acid, recorded the highest amino acid content (15.746 ppm), followed by alanine (15.665 ppm) and glycine (11.867 ppm). The findings indicate that daily intake of Ganoderma sichuanense would be essential for the correct functioning of the body due to its rich contents in carbohydrates, proteins, fibres, amino acids, and minerals.