IDENTIFICATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF ALCHEMILLA CAUCASICA USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

Alchemilla species (Rosaceae) are locally known as “aslanpençesi” in Turkey. Alchemilla plants (lady’s mantle) are used in traditional medicine for different indications. In this study, the methanol extract of Alchemilla caucasica was analyzed using gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract were matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Library. The study revealed the presence of fourteen phyto-components. The most abundant compounds in the methanol extract were 13-docosenamide (Z)-,  5- octadecenoic acid 2,3-dihydroxy-propyl ester and hexadecanoic acid 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxyl-methyl) ethyl ester which had concentrations of 59.77%, 15.34%, and 7.59% respectively. Results indicated that polarity of the solvents used in extraction influenced the relative abundance and type of compounds extracted. Various compounds identified are known to have varying bioactivities such as being anticancer and antioxidant. Therefore, the presence of these compounds in Alchemilla caucasica could be useful in the preparation of functional foods and neutraceuticals in preventing and treating debilitating and chronic human diseases.