Volume 16, Issue 38, July - December, 2022

GC-MS analysis of bioactive composition of Averrhoa carambola leaf and fruit extracts and acute toxicity study in Albino Mice

Uju OP^♦, Ukairo ID, Emejulu AA

Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B 1526 Imo State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B 1526 Imo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Averrhoa carambola is one of the ornamental plants that are becoming increasingly popular because of its medicinal properties. This study assesses the bioactive components of Averrhoa carambola ethanol leaf and fruit extracts using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer. Acute toxicity study was also carried out on wistar strain albino mice using standard procedures. The varying doses of the extracts were administered orally to the male wistar albino mice and signs accompanying toxicity and possible death of animals were monitored. Eight bioactive phyto components were identified in the GCMS analysis of Averrhoa carambola ethanol leaf extract, with Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate having the highest percentage concentrations (24.31%) quantitatively. The ethanol fruit extract had six bioactive components identified, with citral having the highest concentration of 20.59%. Acute toxicity studies revealed the ethanol leaf extract had a median lethal dose (LD50) value of 3605.55mg/kg body weight. Conversely, the ethanol fruit extract of A. carambola showed no lethal signs of morbidity and mortality even at doses up to 5000mg/kg body weight. It is therefore concluded that Averrhoa carambola leaf and fruit ethanol extracts contain some essential photochemical which seem to justify their use in ethno medicine and may be relatively safe. To determine their safety in certain bodily organs, however, further studies is advised.

Keywords: Lethal dose, Averrhoa carambola, Phytochemicals, GC-MS

Drug Discovery, 2022, 16(38), 86-93

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