Metabolite profile analysis of ethanolic extract of Ironwood (Fagraea fragrans Roxb.) leaves using GC-MS

Abstract

The Ironwood (Fagraea fragrans Roxb.) is widely used as a traditional medicine and cosmetic ingredient. The leaves of Ironwood contain various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, steroids, saponins, quinones, tannins, and flavonoids, which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Recent studies have focused on identifying the metabolite compounds present in Ironwood leaves through a non-targeted metabolomics approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis of the GC-MS data allowed researchers to trace the biosynthesis pathways of the dominant compounds and their associated bioactivities. The GC-MS results obtained a total of 131 peaks with 79 compounds identified with a summary of 93.44%. There were five dominant metabolite compounds, namely cis13-Octadecenoic acid (20.98%), 5-Hydromethylfurfural (16.54%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (13.84%), Erythocentauriun (10.11%), and 5-Benzofuranacetic acid, 6-ethenyl-2,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3 (3.09%). These metabolite compounds exhibit bioactivities such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-androgenic properties. They hold the potential for development into various medicinal and cosmetic products.