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Full Research Article

Identification of Secondary Metabolites from Tridax procumbens using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Technique

Sherene Victoria1, D. Surya1, R. Jeethasri1, Ananthi Rachel Livingstone1,*
1Department of Zoology, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai-600 059, Tamil Nadu, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: Secondary metabolites in plants help counteract biotic and abiotic stress and can be utilized in sustainable and eco-friendly farming. This study identifies secondary metabolites in the weed Tridax procumbens (coat buttons).

Methods: Extracts (aqueous, methanol, hexane) were prepared from the stem with leaves, root and flower of Tridax procumbens and analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Bioactivity was evaluated using Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.

Result: The aqueous extract revealed 8 compounds in the stem with leaves, 14 in the root and 10 in the flower. The methanol extract revealed 40 compounds in the stem with leaves, 31 in the root and 23 in the flower. The hexane extract revealed 20 compounds each in the stem with leaves and flower and 18 in the root. These compounds showed biocidal, bioactive and biodegradable properties with potential applications as pesticides, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants and more. Hence, Tridax procumbens shows promising applications in many fields.

INTRODUCTION

The misuse of pesticides harms living organisms and causes pollution (Shindez et al., 2024). Ecological pesticides which are natural plant secondary metabolites, resist environmental stress and bio stressors, being eco-friendly with low persistence (Kumar et al., 2023; Ayilara et al., 2023). These compounds have agricultural and medicinal importance (Kikraliya et al., 2024; Moond et al., 2023; Devi et al., 2023; Beniwal et al., 2022). Weeds like Tridax procumbens, a widespread Asteraceae species, produce valuable secondary metabolites useful in sustainable agriculture (Syed et al., 2020; Ingole et al., 2022). This 2022 study analyzed aqueous, methanol and hexane extracts of T. procumbens to identify their secondary metabolites and bioactivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tridax procumbens from Kanyakumari were collected, washed, separated into stem with leaves, root and flower, dried for 10 days and powdered. Aqueous extracts were prepared by shaking plant parts in double deionized water for 72 hours, then filtering and centrifuging. Methanol and hexane extracts were obtained using Soxhlet extraction at 65°C and 69°C. All extracts were stored at 4°C. GCMS analysis was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru University using a Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 Plus with a Thermal Desorption System TD20. Compounds were identified via the NIST library and bioactivity confirmed using Dr. Duke’s database.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The present study revealed variations in secondary metabolites in different parts of the plant. The aqueous stem with leaf had 8 constituents, the root 14 and the flower 10. Cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl- was present in higher quantities (43.53%) in the stem with leaf extract. 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)- is the compound with the highest area percentage (21.61%) in the root extract. Phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl), phosphite (3:1), with the highest area percentage (34.39%) in the flower extract. (Fig 1-3).

Fig 1: Chromatogram of aqueous extract of stem with leaves.



Fig 2: Chromatogram of aqueous extract of root.



Fig 3: Chromatogram of aqueous extract of flower.


       
Methanol extract contained the highest secondary metabolites: stem with leaf (40), root (31) and flower (23). n-Hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) was found in all three extracts, with higher concentrations in the stem with leaf extract (39.79%) and flower extract (30.62%). (S,Z)-Heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol was present in higher concentration in the root (66.37%) (Fig 4-6).

Fig 4: Chromatogram of methanol extract of stem with leaves.



Fig 5: Chromatogram of methanol extract of root.



Fig 6: Chromatogram of methanol extract of flower.


       
Hexane extract contained stem with leaf (20), root (18) and flower (20). Squalene (18.22%) which is a triterpene is present in higher concentration in stem with leaf extract. (S,Z)-Heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol (68.46%) was present in higher concentration in hexane root extract. n-Hexadecanoic acid (17.76%) was present in higher concentration in hexane flower extract (Fig 7-9).

Fig 7: Chromatogram of hexane extract of stem with leaves.



Fig 8: Chromatogram of hexane extract of root.



Fig 9: Chromatogram of hexane extract of flower.


       
The secondary metabolites identified in this study have many biological uses, as mentioned in Table 1-9, referring to Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases.

Table 1: Secondary metabolites identified in the aqueous stem with leaf extract of Tridax procumbens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.



Table 2: Secondary metabolites identified in the aqueous root extract of Tridax procumbens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.



Table 3: Secondary metabolites identified in the aqueous flower extract of Tridax procumbens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.



Table 4: Secondary metabolites identified in the methanol stem with leaf extract of Tridax procumbens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.



Table 5: Secondary metabolites identified in the methanol root extract of Tridax procumbens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.



Table 6: Secondary metabolites identified in the methanol flower extract of Tridax procumbens using GC-MS technique.



Table 7: Secondary metabolites identified in the hexane stem with leaf extract of Tridax procumbens using GC-MS technique.



Table 8: Secondary metabolites identified in the hexane root extract of Tridax procumbens using GC-MS technique.



Table 9: Secondary metabolites identified in the hexane flower extract of Tridax procumbens using GC-MS technique.


       
Tridax procumbens is traditionally used in Asia to treat skin diseases and wounds, but recent studies (Ingole et al., 2022) suggest these properties lack strong scientific evidence. The present study identified various biologically active compounds that are valuable for further research. Future research should focus on secondary metabolites in weed plants rather than heavily exploited medicinal ones to uncover new bioactive compounds and therapeutic properties.

CONCLUSION

GCMS analysis of Tridax procumbens revealed secondary metabolites with pesticidal, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These biodegradable compounds offer sustainable alternatives for drug discovery and agriculture. Future research should focus on isolating and analyzing specific metabolites for novel bioactive applications.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to Scott Christian College, Tamil Nadu; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Trichy Research Institute of Biotechnology Pvt. Ltd, Tamil Nadu and Dr. S. Kumaravel, Food Testing Laboratory, Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Tamil Nadu for providing laboratory, instrument and intellectual support.
 
Ethical approval 
 
Ethical clearance was not required for this study, as the research focused on plant-based materials and did not involve human subjects, cell lines or animals. 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article. The study did not receive funding from any organization.

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