Characterization of selected medicinal plants of southwest by GC/MS analysis

CHED 292

Kaveh Zarrabi, kaveh_zarrabi@ccsn.edu, Patricia Gonja, Seanna Larson, Mike Lum, Michelle Mizo, Joahnna Paderna, Anisa Valinia, May Yared, and Pauline Williams. Department of Physical Sciences, Community College of Southern Nevada, 6375 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146-1164
Medicinal plants have been employed by Native Americans throughout the southwest United States for centuries to combat and cure various ailments. This project concentrates on the following five commonly known plants found in the Nevada desert. Krameria erecta (rhatany), Gutierrezia sarothae (snakeweed),Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa), Chilopsis linearis (desert willow), Encelia virginensis (brittle bush)

A separation scheme based on polarity of plant components was developed and dried leaves of each plant were subjected to consecutive extractions with hexane, dichloromethane, and water. Each fraction was subjected to GC/MS analysis, and identification of each compound was confirmed by the use of second MS library or derivatization of each fraction.

This study is a part of an undergraduate research program to encourage retention and carrier orientation to science students.