This research article published by the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, VOL. 3, ISSUE 4, 2014
Bersama abyssinica has been reported to possess a varied range of therapeutical and pharmacological
applications due to presence of bioactive compounds. The present study was carried out to determine the
phytochemical present in the Bersama abyssinica leaf, stem bark and root bark methanolic fraction using
Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis. A total of 24 phytocompounds
were identified from leaves whereas 21 compounds from stem bark and 19 from root bark. The classes of
compounds identified include; terpenes, vitamin, carotenoid (rhodopin), flavonoids, steroid, unsaturated
and saturated fatty acids. Most of the identified compounds were previously reported to possess
antimicrobial, antitumor, antiseptic, preservative, and insecticidal and antioxidant activities. Bersama
abyssinica leaf methanolic fraction had higher amount of compounds. The most abundant metabolites to
all fractions are 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-, 1,2,3-benzenetriol, 2,3-dimethylfumaric
acid, 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid, ethyl ester; levoglucosenone, 2,5-dimethoxythiophenol and DMelezitose recorded in leaves , stem bark and root bark of Bersama abyssinica.