Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profile and acute toxicity studies of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract.

Medicinal plants are primary source of bio-active compounds applied in the management of diseases. The present work focuses on determining the acute toxicity of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extract and the volatile organic constituents using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The acute toxicity test of the extract of A. muricata was determined using standard method. The GC-MS profiling of the extract obtained 13 compounds at different retention times. The dominant chemical constituents in the extracts of A. muricata leaf include: Linoelaidic acid (30.69%), Oleic acid (12.98%), 6-octadecenoic acid (10.99%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (9.28%), Octadecanoic acid (7.73) and 10-Octadecanoic acid (6.69%). Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was >5000 mg/kg body weight. The extracts of A. muricata are rich in a battery of bioa-active compounds that may be pharmacologically responsible for its known medicinal properties and considered generally safe.