Phytochemical Profiling, Nutritional Composition, GC-MS Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Pteridium aquilinum Leaf Extracts
1Joel M. K. and 2Edmond Moses
1Adamawa State College of Education Hong,Nigeria
2Nigerian Army University BIU, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The present study investigated the phytochemical constituents, proximate composition, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profile, and antibacterial activity of Pteridium aquilinum leaf extracts to provide a comprehensive understanding of its bioactive potential. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the abundant presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, and anthraquinones in both aqueous and methanolic extracts, indicating the plant’s rich reservoir of pharmacologically relevant compounds. Proximate analysis further established that the leaves are nutritionally valuable, showing high carbohydrate and fibre content along with appreciable levels of protein, moisture, and ash, which support its dietary significance. The GC–MS analysis of the methanolic extract identified several bioactive molecules, including hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, phytol, squalene, and stigmasterol, which has been widely, reported to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Antibacterial assays demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition against clinically important bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, with methanolic extracts exhibiting significantly higher zones of inhibition compared to aqueous extracts. The overall findings confirm that P. aquilinum leaves not only possess nutritional benefits but also harbour bioactive constituents with therapeutic potential. This provides a scientific rationale for its long-standing use in ethnomedicine and suggests promising applications of the plant in the development of nutraceutical formulations, antimicrobial agents, and pharmaceutical products.
Keywords: Pteridium aquilinum, phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, GC–MS, antibacterial activity, bioactive compounds, nutraceutical potential
CITE AS: Joel M. K. and Edmond Moses (2025). Phytochemical Profiling, Nutritional Composition, GC-MS Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Pteridium aquilinum Leaf Extracts. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES, 6(3) 257-261. https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJSES/2025/63.257260