GC-MS ANALYSIS OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM THE WHOLE PLANT METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L) J. SMITH (POLYPODIACEAE)

To investigate the secondary metabolites present in methanolic extract of Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith (Polypodiaceae). GC-MS analysis of whole fern extract were performed using a Trace GC Ultra and DSQII model MS from Thermo Fisher Scientific Limited. The instrument was set as follows, Injector port temperature set to 250 degrees C, Interface temperature set as 250 degrees C, and source kept at 20 degrees C. The oven temperature programmed as a variable, 70 degrees C for 2 mins, 150 degrees C @8 degrees C/min, up to 260 degrees C @ 10 degrees C/min. Split ratio set as 1:50 and the injector used was splitless mode. The DB-35 MS Nonpolar column was used whose dimensions were 0.25 mm OD x 0.25 mu m ID x 30 metres length procured from Agilent Co., USA. Helium was used as the carrier gas at 1 ml/min. The MS was set to scan from 50 to 650 Da. The results of the GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of 9 compounds. The most prevailing compounds in this study are Tetrahydroisovelleral, 7, 10, pentadeadiynoic acid (CAS), Phosphoric Acid, octyl diphenyl ester (CAS), Octicizer, Phosphoric acid, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl ester (CAS), QUERCETIN 7, 3', 4' TRIMETHOXY, 1, 30-Triacotanediol, Ergost-5-en-3-ol, (3a'-(CAS), and Lucenin 2 found to have significant medicinal property. It can be concluded that the plant extract show the presence of 9 phytocompounds. The presence of various bioactive compounds justifies the use of the whole fern for various ailments by traditional practitioners.