ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FATTY ACIDS FROM THE ACETONE EXTRACT OF Parkia biglobosa (JACQ.) R. BR. EX G. DON FRUIT HUSK USING COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY AND 1H NMR SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study examined phytochemicals in the acetone extract of Parkia biglobosa (African locust bean) fruit husk, a traditionally used but underutilised plant part in West Africa. The fruit husks were air-dried, pulverised, and extracted by acetone maceration, producing a 16 % yield. The extract was fractionated using column chromatography and monitored by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) across different solvent systems, which showed multiple compounds based on distinct Rf values. Based on their chromatographic profiles, only three major fractions (VT14, VT22, and VT40) were selected for further characterization by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy. The ¹H NMR spectra exhibited characteristic signals consistent with long-chain fatty acids. Structural elucidation tentatively identified the fractions VT14, VT22 and VT40 as Oleic acid, Myristic acid and Lauric acid respectively. This is the first report of Oleic, myristic and lauric acids from P. biglobosa fruit husk. The detection of these bioactive fatty acids supports the plant’s traditional medicinal use and suggests potential for therapeutic applications and drug development.