Assessing Chemical Variations in Andrographis paniculata: GC-MS Characterization of Its Hexane Extract

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis and characterization are essential for identifying potential therapeutic compounds in plants, enabling drug discovery, validating traditional medicine, and ensuring the therapeutic value and reliability of herbal products. The results revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds, including saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, in the hexane extract, aligning with previous research. Notably, tannins, steroids, and cardiac glycosides were not present. GC-MS characterization identified 19 distinct compounds in the hexane extract, each with unique retention times and abundance levels. Squalene, a terpenoid, was the most abundant component (39.927%), followed by 3, 7, 11, 15-tetranethy-2-hexadecent-1-ol (14.208%) and Stigmastan-3-ol derivatives. Interestingly, the extract displayed a diverse range of chemical classes, with nine major alkaloids, six major terpenoids, and two major waxes identified. Among the alkaloids, one of the isomers of Benzeneethanamine, 2, 5-difluoro-β, 3, 4-trihydroxy-N-methyl- exhibited the highest abundance (4.973%).