GC-MS EVALUATION OF THE BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE OIL FRACTION FROM THE STEM BARKS OF DACRYODES EDULIS G. DON LAM

The ethanolic extract of the stem barks of Dacryodes edulis yielded yellow oil (2.68g). The oil was subjected to GC-MSstudies. Thirteen components were identified with ascorbic acid (21.02%) constituting the bulk of the oil, followed by 6-Octadecenoic acid (Z) (20.06%) and Octadecanoic acid contained (13.70%) of the oil. Other monoterpenoids, oxygenatedcomponents and fatty acids identified include isooctanol (1.60%), 8-methyl-1-decene (3.18%), 2-Butenedioc acid (Z)monododecyl ester (6.37%), Hexadecanoic acid (6.05%), 9-Tricosene (Z) (7%), 2,3-Diazabicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2-ene(7.96%), 1-Hexadecanol (6.37%) 1-Isopropyl-1-methyl-2-nonylcyclopropane (4.78%) while 2-(2H-1,2,3-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylpheny-3-benzoate and 3-methyl-4-heptanone constitutes (0.96%) respectively of the oil. The volatile oils displayedantibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis.This result lend credence for the use of Dacryodes edulis stem bark extract in phytomedicine for the treatment of cough,ringworms, craw-craw and wounds in Nigeria.