GC-MS analysis of chemical compounds in medicinal plants possessing antifungal properties

CHED 1276

John E. Gomez, gonzalee@uiwtx.edu, Edward E. Gonzalez, gonzalee@uiwtx.edu, and Alakananda R. Chaudhuri, alakanan@uiwtx.edu. Department of Chemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Three popular medicinal plants from Mexico used in folk medicine for the treatment of skin and nail fungal infections were selected for study. The objective of this research study was to identify and compare the volatile chemical components common to each of the plants. The barks, leaves and stems of each plant were pulverized and extracted successively in a Soxhlet apparatus with solvents of increasing polarity, (1) petroleum ether, (2) anhydrous diethyl ether, (3) chloroform, and (4) absolute ethanol. Separate extracts of the whole bark were prepared with dichloromethane and de-ionized water. The aqueous infusions of were extracted in a separatory funnel with dichloromethane. Extracts were evaporated to dryness and the residues dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane. Samples were concentrated, filtered, and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and analyzed with a GC-MS.