GC-MS analysis of some volatile constituents extracted from stem of Euphorbia tirucalli Linn.

Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. is traditionally used as medicine especially in the treatment of diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. The objectives of the present study were to identify the bioactive compounds in the stem of Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis, and to investigate their potentials as an alternative for antimicrobial activity. Two-microliters of dried powdered of Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. stem were mixed with methanol followed by injection into splitless mode of GC-MS. Separation was achieved by Elite-5MS fused capillary column. The mass spectra were compared with the spectra of known components stored in the NIST and WILEY databases for compound identification. Forty-six chemical constituents were identified. The major constituents were lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ol, (3β)- (13.60%), (23S)-ethylcholest-5-en-(3β)-ol (7.02%), linoleic acid (2.96%) and viminalol (2.57%). Most of the active compounds present in the stem of Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. have previously been shown to exhibit antimicrobial properties.