Chemical and Phytochemical Analyses of Extracts from the Leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana, “an Herbal Plant used for the Treatment of Various Skin Disorders”

Abstract Acalypha wilkesiana is a tropical herb used for the treatment of skin disorders. Phytochemical studies carried out on the pulverized dried leaves of the plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, saponins, flavonoids and tannins. The crude 50% methanol extract obtained from the dried leaves was sequentially partitioned into three fractions. Thin layer chromatography of the fractions revealed three (3) components each in hexane fraction; ethyl acetate fraction and butanol fraction of the plant extract. Column chromatography of the fractions was carried out. The infrared analyses of the components revealed the presence of alkenes, hydroxyl group, conjugate carbonyls, esters in the hexane fraction components. Those from the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions contained aliphatic amides or amines with carbonyl and esters attached in the two fractions. Essential oil was extracted from the dried leaves using hydro-distillation method. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of major compounds which included: n-Hexadecanoic acid 4-Hexen-2-one-3-methyl, Pyrrole and 6-Benzamido-4-benzoyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5. The presence of the functional groups inferred from IR and GC-MS analyses with the antimicrobial potential of the essential oil may support the use of the plant in the management of skin infections, gastrointestinal disorders and other ailments.