Abstract:
Costus spicatus is an herbaceous medicinal plant that is used locally with all the parts i.e. the leaves, flowers and leaves because of its medicinal properties. This study was carried out to compare the phytochemical constituents of the Costus spicatus flowers and leaves. The secondary metabolites were qualitatively screened via standard procedures. The UV-spectroscopy was used to determine the absorbance of the aqueous extract at different wavelength while the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was carried out to identity the elemental component of the aqueous extracts. The phytochemical analysis showed that not all phytochemicals are present in both the leaves and flowers as there some differences which include the terpenoids and saponins which are present in the flowers but absent from the leaves as observed from the qualitative phytochemical analysis. Absorbance of the flower, results showed that the highest absorbance was recorded at 2.5 and lowest to 1.0 while the leaves exhibit highest absorbance of 1.6 at wavelength of 220nm and lowest absorbance was recorded as 0.7 at 212nm. GC-MS Analysis of the flower showed that the retention time of 15.279 and having a surface area of 11.34% was identified as Hexadecanoic acid, The peak of value of leaves showed it had a surface area of 5.55 and having retention time 17.046 of was identified as Bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane, 3-methyl-( C8H14). The comparative study on the aqueous extract of the plant of Costus spicatus via qualitative phytochemical screening, UV-Spectroscopy and GC-MS analysis reveals the unique phytomolecules and essential compounds in the flower and leaves which has potential biological importance if further explored.
