Investigation of the Phytochemical Constituents of Euphorbia hirta and Senna alata using Qualitative, Quantitative and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Analysis

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been central to traditional medicine due to their abundance of bioactive compounds. Euphorbia hirta and Senna alata are notable examples, widely used in ethnomedicine and recognized for their proven pharmacological properties. This study aimed at investigating the phytochemical constituents of Euphorbia hirta and Senna alata using qualitative screening, quantitative analysis, and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Methanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants were prepared using soxhlet extraction and maceration techniques respectively and the qualitative and quantitative analysis were carried out using standard techniques and GC-MS. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of key bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins in both plants, with methanol extracts showing greater diversity. Quantitative analysis confirmed alkaloids as the most abundant phytochemical, particularly in Senna alata, followed by saponins and flavonoids. GC-MS profiling identified a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds, including γ-Tocopherol, oleic acid, and n-Hexadecanoic acid in S. alata, and quercetin, 9-Octadecenal, and eicosatrienoic acid methyl ester in E. hirta. The findings demonstrate that methanol is a more effective solvent for extracting a broader spectrum of phytochemicals, and that Senna alata exhibits a richer and more diverse chemical profile than Euphorbia hirta. These results support the potential of both plants, particularly S. alata, as sources of natural compounds for therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications.