Phytochemical Profiling of Ruta graveolens L. a Vital Medicinal Plant Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Background: Ruta graveolens is a small evergreen sub-shrub of the family Rutaceae, 2-3 feet tall and almost as wide. It contains a mixture of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, acridone alkaloids, essential oils etc. having various biological activities. The present study was designed to determine the volatile compounds present in various extracts of R. graveolens L. (Rue) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Methods: The leaves, stem and roots of R. graveolens were extracted using solvents like petroleum ether and chloroform by using Soxhlet apparatus for 24 hours and the extracts were analyzed through GC-MS. The mass spectra of the compounds observed were matched by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Results: The results revealed the presence of 1, 4 and 6 chemical compounds in chloroform extracts of leaves, stem and roots, respectively, while as 1, 5, and 3 chemical constituents were identified in petroleum ether extracts of leaves, stem and roots respectively. Conclusion: The study is a base to understand the richness of bioactive components in different extracts of R. graveolens L. Their isolation would have potential applications in drug designing as well as in the medical and healthcare industries.