Study of Phytochemical Investigation of the Aerial Parts of Cleome viscosa L.

Abstract

Cleome viscosa L. (Cleomaceae), commonly known as wild mustard or Hurhur, is a widely distributed annual herb used across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and folk medicine for the treatment of wounds, fever, diarrhoea, bronchitis, rheumatism and microbial infections. Despite extensive documentation of whole-plant, seed and root extracts, the aerial parts (leaves and stems) remain comparatively under-characterised. In the present study, the aerial parts of C. viscosa were sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, methanol and water by maceration, and the extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, with the eventual aim of evaluating anticancer activity. Screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and saponins in both the methanolic and aqueous extracts, while sterols, terpenoids and phenolic compounds were not detected under the conditions used. GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic extract identified eighteen compounds, dominated by fatty acids and their esters (notably tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid esters and decanedioic acid bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester) together with catechol and minor nitrogen heterocycles. These results provide a chemical rationale for the traditional therapeutic uses of the plant and establish a foundation for bioassay-guided isolation and anticancer screening.