Phytochemical Characterization of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Seeds Using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID)
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Abstract
Moringa oleifera seeds constitute an important reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals with established nutritional and pharmacological significance. The present study characterized the phytochemical composition of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera seeds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Extraction was performed using controlled aqueous maceration, followed by chromatographic analysis under optimized instrumental conditions. GC-MS profiling revealed thirty-five putatively identified constituents belonging to diverse phytochemical classes, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives, fatty acids, esters, alkanes, alkenes, and related aromatic compounds. Constituents detected included cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, epicatechin, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, erucic acid, palmitoleic acid, and several long-chain fatty acid derivatives. GC-FID analysis further revealed the presence of biologically important flavonoids and phenolic compounds such as catechin, apigenin, quercetin, myricetin, genistein, resveratrol, luteolin, kaempferol, and naringenin. The predominance of phenolic acids and flavonoids within the extract suggests substantial antioxidant and redox-modulating potential. Structural characteristics of the identified compounds, particularly hydroxylated phenolic and flavonoid moieties, indicate possible involvement in free radical scavenging, modulation of oxidative stress, and regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways. The combined GC-MS and GC-FID analyses demonstrate that the aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera possesses considerable phytochemical diversity with potential biological and pharmacological relevance. These findings provide a chemical basis for the traditional applications of Moringa oleifera seeds and support further pharmacological, toxicological, and bioactivity-guided investigations.
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