Gas Chromatography-Based Chemical Investigation of Ficus pandurata Fruitsˊ Lipoidal Matter

Abstract

Ficus pandurata Hance, (Moraceae) is a medium size tree native to tropical Africa, Mediterranean region, India, Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan. Particularly, the fruit of this plant is known to contain large amounts of triterpenes and sterols. A chemical analysis using gas chromatography is done on the ethanolic extract of Ficus pandurata Fruits' saponified and unsaponified fractions. However, saponified fraction showed eleven fatty acids methyl esters, in which hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid were the two fatty acids found to be the most prevalent, accounting for around 34% and 14% of the overall composition of the saponified fraction, respectively. Twenty compounds were also found in the unsaponifiable fraction, accounting for 95.72% of the total unsaponifiable content. Phytosterols was the most prevalent identified class, accounting for around 55% of the total unsaponifiable content. Three major phytosterols, i.e., sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, were found, accounting for 31.47%, 18.22%, and 5.25% of the total unsaponifiable content, respectively. Triterpenes and deoxygenated hydrocarbons were detected in lower percentage in unsaponifiable fraction.