PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF "HERB 25" A HERBAL ANTI-MALARIAL PRODUCT BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC-MASS SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS (GC-MS).

Abstract

'Herb 25' is an anti-malarial herbal product containing dried powdered leaves of Azadirachta indica (Neem), as the major constituent. The product is packaged in tea bags and orally taken in hot water as an infusion for prevention and treatment of malaria. It represents the first-herbal drug to be registered from any Nigerian University by the Nigerian food and drug regulatory agency, NAFDAC. This study was carried out to evaluate the composition of the aqueous and the ethanolic extracts of 'Herb-25 using the Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts presented 9 and 14 identified phytochemical components respectively. The aqueous extract of the "Herb 25" contained more of terpinoids and fatty acids than the ethanolic extract. Major terpinoid in the aqueous extract was 7-Oxabicyclo (4.1.0) heptanes, 1-methyl-4-(2-methyloxiranyl)- (40.98%) (Retention time 29.808) whilst in the ethanolic extract Naphtho(2,1-b)furan-2,8-dione,decahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-,(3aS,5aS,9aS,9Br)- (23.11%) (Retention time 29.839). Major fatty acid in the aqueous extract was n-Hexadecanoic acid (28.21%) (Retention time 28.235) and Oleic Acid (17.02%) (Retention time 29.413), whilst in the ethanolic extract was n-Hexadecanoic acid (32.05%)(Retention time 28.309). "Herb 25" is therefore, a combined therapy based on the numerous compounds identified.