DAOMI DANIEL

Lonchocarpus cyanescens (Fabaceae), commonly known as Yoruba Indigo, is a medicinal plant widely utilized in West African ethnomedicine to treat skin infections, ulcers, and inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical constituents of the acetone fraction of L. cyanescens leaves using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to provide a scientific basis for its traditional uses. Dried and powdered leaves were subjected to ethanolic maceration and sequential solvent partitioning to isolate the acetone fraction. Constituents were then identified by comparing their mass spectra against the NIST14 library. The GC-MS analysis led to the tentative identification of 40 distinct compounds, with many key components showing high spectral match quality scores (>80). The chemical profile was predominantly composed of aromatic hydrocarbons, with Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl- (19.05%) being the most abundant constituent. Other major components included various fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), such as Dodecanoic acid, methyl ester (5.18%) and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (4.18%). Biologically relevant minor compounds, including the monoterpene o-Cymene and the anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene Azulene, were also detected. These findings provide a chemical basis for the plant's traditional therapeutic uses and establish a valuable phytochemical fingerprint for future quality control and pharmacological research.