Preliminary Study on GC-MS Analysis of Prosopis Africana Seed (African Mesquite) Oil

Abstract

A preliminary studywas carried out to examine the various bioactive compounds in Prosopisafricana seed (African mesquite)oil usinggas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).A total number of 24 bioactive compounds was identified including: 2-phenyl propane (3.09 %), 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene (4.80 %), prosogerin A (12.67 %), prosogerin B (10.06 %), prosogerin C (7.11 %), prosogerin D (4.05 %), prosogerin E (2.89 %), luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside (0.67 %), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (4.88 %), isoprosopilosine (4.28 %), tryptamine (1.66 %), β-phenethylamine (5.63 %), gallic acid (0.57 %), 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (1.41 %), 2,4-bis (1-phenylethyl) phenol (9.60 %), 2,4,6-tris(1-phenylethyl) phenol (7.83 %), rhodoxanthin (1.67 %), ferulic acid (1.20 %), pheophytin A (1.54 %), pheophytin B (3.31 %), campsterol (2.80 %) and β-sitosterol (1.51 %).Prosogerins are the most abundant compounds in the sample and are known to posses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and capable of scavenging free radicals thus preventing diseases in animals. It was concluded that Prosopisafricana seed oil can be used as potential alternative to antibiotics and can be used to bridge the gap between food safety and livestock production..