Phytochemical Analysis of n- Hexane and Ethylacetate Extracts of Diodia scandens Sw and Spectroscopic Identification of an Omega- 6 Fatty Acid and a Glyceryl Trilinoleoate

Traditional Medicine Practitioners in South East Nigeria use Diodia scandens Swartz for the treatment of different diseases. Cold maceration of n- hexane and ethyl acetate solvents extracts for 48 hours yielded brownish oily solids which were subjected to the phytochemical analysis. Column chromatography of the crude extracts using n-hexane-ethyl acetate yielded different fractions. These were subjected to spectroscopic analysis. Phytochemical analysis result of the crude n- hexane extract showed the presence of steroids, glycoside, alkaloids, and saponins. Crude ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of steroid and saponin. The column chromatographic fraction CHDS11, was identified as cis, cis-9, 12 - octadecadienioc acid. The 1H NMR chemical shift of 5.05(t) confirmed that the hydrogens are attached to the double bonds at C-9 and 10; C-12 and 13, CHDS12 was identified as 1, 2, 3-propanetriyltris (cis, cis - 9, 12-octadecadienoate), with the chemical shifts 5.28 ppm showing the vinyl protons at C-9 and 10; C-12 and 13; 5.19 ppm showed protons in between trilinoleoate chains. The presence of these compounds justified the use of this plant for treating arthritis and other diseases. This is the first report regarding these compounds which are isolated from this plant.