Phytochemical, Antimicrobial and Gc/Ms Analysis of the Root of Stachytarpheta Cayennensis (L .Vahl) Grown in Eastern Nigeria

Stachytarpheta cayennensis is a plant full of phytonutrient, it has been applied by many  traditional healers to treat host of diseases. Its full constituents have not been fully documented. The phytochemical screening of the root of this plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, steroids and phenols. The antimicrobial analysis on selected human pathogens; Streptococcus specie, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Proteus specie and Pseudomonas specie showed that the extract was only sensitive to Proteus specie having a diameter of inhibition of 4mm at concentration of 240mg/cm³ and minimum inhibition concentration of 120mg/cm³. The spectrum obtained from the GC/MS analysis showed ten peaks at M/z 128 ,220,242,256,252,270,256, 296, 282 and 281 corresponding to molecular formulas of C₁₀H₈ for Cyclopentyl cycloheptene, C₁₅H₂₄  for Butylated hydroxyl toluene, C₁₆H₃₂0  for Hexadecanoic acid, C₁₆H₂₈O₂ for 11-tetradecyl-1-ol acetate, C₁₇H₃₈O₂ for Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester,C₁₆H₃₂O₂ for n-hexadecanoic acid  C₁₉H₃₄O₂  for 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, C₁₈H₃₄O₂ for  octadec-9-enoic acid and C₁₈H₃₅NO for 9-octadecenamide respectively. 9-octadecenamide (Oleamide) is useful for the treatment of insomnia. Oleamide accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid during sleep deprivation and thus induces sleep in animals. It may be a potential medicinal treatment for mood and sleep disorders

Keywords: Human Pathogens, Phytonutrients, Stachytarpheta Cayennensis, phytochemicals