An Integrated Studies of Pharmacognostical, Physicochemical, Phytochemical Evaluation and GC-MS Profile for Methanolic Extract of Whole Plant Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques

Abstract

Aims: To carry out a comprehensive pharmacognostic, physicochemical, phytochemical and analytical evaluation of the whole plant of Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques (Green type), including thin-layer chromatographic and GC-MS profiling of its methanolic extract, to generate reference standards for its identification and quality control. Study Design: Experimental, descriptive pharmacognostic, phytochemical and analytical evaluation. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacognosy, Adhiparasakthi College of Pharmacy, Melmaruvathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India, during 2025–2026. Methodology: Fresh whole-plant material was collected, authenticated (Specimen No. BSI/SRC/5/23/2025-26/Tech-533), shade-dried and powdered. Macroscopic and microscopic characters were recorded, and physicochemical parameters (ash values, extractive values, swelling and foaming indices, fluorescence behaviour) were determined by standard procedures. Successive Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether and methanol yielded extracts that were screened qualitatively and profiled by TLC; the methanolic extract was further analysed by GC-MS. Results: The powdered drug was free from foreign matter, with a loss on drying of 4.4% w/w and total ash 9.6% w/w (acid-insoluble 1.4%, water-soluble 12.1%, sulphated 3.9%, nitrated 7.9%). The swelling index (15 mL) and foaming index (>1000) indicated appreciable saponin content, and extraction gave the highest yield with the aqueous (12.5%) and methanolic (7.5%) fractions. Carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins/phenolics, phytosterols, alkaloids and proteins/amino acids were detected in the powdered drug and extract, while gums/mucilage and fixed oils were absent. TLC resolved alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phytosterols into multiple spots (Rf 0.03–1.0). GC-MS identified 41 components, 25 of them recognisable plant-derived constituents, led by 1,2,4-butanetriol (11.06%), n-hexadecanoic acid (4.31%) and octacosane, 2-methyl- (2.88%). Conclusion: The pharmacognostic, physicochemical, phytochemical and analytical standards established in this study provide reliable reference parameters for the identification, authentication and quality control of C. comosum (Green type)