GC-MS AND MICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF OIL EXTRACTS FROM GUMS OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE (CASHEW GUM), KHAYA SENEGELENSIS (AFRICAN MAHOGANY GUM) AND TERMINALIA MENTALY (UMBRELLA TREE GUM)

xii ABSTRACT Natural plant gums have long been valued for their bioactive components and are increasingly being explored as sources of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. This study investigates the oil extracts from the gums of Anacardium occidentale, Khaya senegalensis, and Terminalia mentaly, which remain underutilized despite their phytopharmaceutical potential. To analyze the chemical constituents and evaluate the antimicrobial activities of oil extracts from the gums of A. occidentale, K. senegalensis, and T. mentaly using GC-MS and bioassay techniques. Gums were collected, sun-dried, and pulverized before extraction using Soxhlet apparatus with ethanol. Physicochemical properties including flash point and refractive index were measured. GC-MS analysis was performed to determine the chemical profiles of the oils. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated using agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Botryodiplodia theobromae, with standard antibiotics as controls. Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including one-way ANOVA. Flash points ranged from 120.52°C (K. senegalensis) to 157.37°C (T. mentaly), while refractive indices ranged from 1.4545 to 1.4591. GC-MS identified 20–24 compounds per extract, including vanillic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, dl-α-tocopherol, and squalene. T. mentaly showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus (30 mm at 100 mg/mL), outperforming all antibiotics tested. K. senegalensis exhibited broad-spectrum activity against both bacteria and fungi, with inhibition zones up to 24 mm, while A. occidentale displayed moderate activity. ANOVA results confirmed significant differences among oils (p < 0.05). The gum oils, particularly from T. mentaly and K. senegalensis, exhibited potent antimicrobial properties and contain diverse bioactive compounds. These findings highlight their potential as natural alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials. Further studies should investigate their minimum inhibitory concentrations, cytotoxicity, and in vivo applications to support clinical or industrial development.