Determination of bioactive components of Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Raynal ssp. littoralis (Blume) Raynal through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis

Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Raynal ssp. littoralis (Blume) Raynal is one of the medicinally important herbs belonging to the family Gentianaceae, commonly known as vellaruk. The present study deals with the GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of E. axillare. Forty phytochemical constituents have been identified by comparing the chromatogram, peak value of the unknown compound with entries in NIST database. The prevalent compounds detected are 2—Phenyl—5—methoxy-oxadiazol-1,3,4 (12.15%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (6.47%), 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z,Z) (5.46%), beta-sitosterol (5.09%), stigmasterol (4.97%), 3-Undecen-5-yne, (E)- (4.45%), campesterol (4.10%), 1,5-Decadiyne (3.75%), Methoxy-4-vinylphenol (2.77%) and erythrocentaurin (2.58%). The result of this study justifies the use of this plant in folk and herbal medicine.