ABSTRACT
"Terminalia Ivorensis: Pioneering Botanical Advancements for a Greener Tomorrow!" Terminalia ivorensis (TI) is used in West African ethnomedicine for the treatment of conditions including ulcers, malaria, inflammation, and wounds. Despite its widespread use, the phytochemical profile and bioactive components of TI remain largely undetermined. This study was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the nutritional composition (proximate and elemental analysis) and GC-MS profile of the methanol leaf extract of Terminalia ivorensis. Proximate analysis of the methanol extracts of the leaves of Terminalia ivorensis was carried out using the AOAC methods. Elemental analysis of the methanol extracts of the leaves of the plant was also carried out using atomic absorption spectrometric and flame photometer. Identification and quantification of the bioactive components of the methanol leaf extract were determined by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) single phase ion mode. Spectra from detected compounds were matched with known compounds of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Proximate analysis of the methanol leaf extract reveals that it contains nutrients such as carbohydrates (37.70±0.05%), proteins (10.94±0.03%), fats (7.97±0.12%), fibre (0.95±0.01%), and some other contents such as ash content (1.42±0.01%) and moisture content (41.02±0.21%). Mineral analysis of the extract revealed the presence of essential minerals such as calcium (641.2±1.20mg/100g), copper (6.28±0.02mg/100g), magnesium (186.16±0.29mg/100g), iron (17.13±0.06mg/100g), manganese (3.47±0.01mg/100g), and zinc (3.82±0.01mg/100g), which are essential for the metabolic wellbeing of an individual. Forty-Seven (47) phytochemical compounds were detected by GC-MS single phase ion mode including 1, 2, 3- Benzenetriol (26.31%), Diethyl Phthalate (14.93%), D-Allose (6.96%), Anhydro-.alpha-d-galactofuranose (5.09), nHexadecanoic acid (1.38%) as the most predominant. The study revealed that Terminalia ivorensis could be a useful source of nutrients, minerals, and several helpful bioactive compounds that serves as drug target needed for drug development.
