PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES AND GC-MS ANALYSIS OF PHYLANTHUS NIRURI

Medicinal plants have remained a major source of therapeutic agents across cultures and civilizations. Their healing properties are attributed to naturally occurring chemical constituents known as phytochemicals, which include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, and phenolic compounds (Ahmad et al., 2013). These phytochemicals exhibit a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects. Phyllanthus niruri, commonly referred to as “stone breaker,” is a well-recognized medicinal plant widely used in Africa, Asia, and South America. It is traditionally employed for treating malaria, jaundice, kidney stones, liver disorders, diabetes, and microbial infections (Mohammed et al., 2013). The rich medicinal reputation of P. niruri has fueled scientific interest in determining the chemical basis of its therapeutic value. The presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and terpenoids in Phyllanthus niruri corresponds with its reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. These compounds are known to scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and modulate inflammatory pathways, which support the traditional medicinal use of the plant in treating liver disorders, infections, and inflammatory conditions. The GC–MS analysis further identified a variety of bioactive compounds that align with those documented in Silva et al. (2015), confirming the chemical consistency of P. niruri across different studies. Fatty acids such as palmitic acid contribute to the antimicrobial potential of the plant by disrupting microbial cell membranes, while phytol exhibits anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities. Additionally, compounds such as hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and other esters detected in the GC–MS profile are associated with anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and analgesic effects, highlighting the plant’s broad therapeutic potential. Terpenoids detected in the study are known to possess antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, while phenolic compounds contribute to both antioxidant activity and the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases. The synergistic effect of these phytochemicals may explain the multi-targeted pharmacological actions of P. niruri, validating its use in traditional medicine and supporting its potential application in modern drug development and nutraceutical formulations. Overall, the phytochemical composition and GC–MS profile suggest that Phyllanthus niruri is a promising source of natural bioactive compounds with diverse therapeutic properties, warranting further pharmacological and clinical investigations to explore its full medicinal potential.