Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of the essential oil from the leaves of Sesamum radiatum, a potential medication for male infertility factor, by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry

Modupe Ogunlesi*, Wesley Okiei and Elizabeth Adejoke Osibote

Chemistry Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mayogunlesi@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348033353238.

Abbreviations: GC-MS, Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry; R_T, retention time (min).

Accepted 14 January, 2010

   Abstract

Essential oil was extracted from the dried leaves of Sesamum radiatum by hydro-distillation and analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.  n-Hexadecanoic acid was found to be the major constituent and with three other fatty acids namely, 9,12,15-octadecanoic acid-(Z,Z,Z), dodecanoic acid and tetradecanoic acid constitute 40.64% of the oil. Other constituents include heptatriacontanol, estra–1,3,5(10)–trien-17á-ol, 1-(+)–ascorbic acid, 2,6-dihexadecanoate, ethyl iso-allocholate, 18,19–secoyohimban–19-oic acid, 16,17,20,21-tetrahydro-16-(hydroxymethyl)-methyl ester, (15á, 16E)-trans-(2,3-diphenylcyclopropyl) methylphenyl sulfoxide, 1,1-[2-methyl-2-(phenylthio) cyclopropylidene]bis-benzene and phenolics. The presence of some of these constituents in the essential oil provides the scientific evidences for the observed cardiovascular and estrogenic activity as well as curative properties of the plant for male infertility factor, constipation, fungal and bacterial infections and bruises.

Key words: Sesamum radiatum, male infertility factor, essential oil, GC-MS.