The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2026; 15(2):144-149 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2026.15204

Research Article

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of Manilkara zapota leaves

Jhancirani Neelamegam¹ , Preethy John² , Nisha Aynikkattil Ravindran³ , Suja Rani Sasidharan² , Indira Sukumaran Sajitha⁴ , Pratheesh Mankuzhy Damodaran⁵

Jhancirani Neelamegam,Preethy John,Nisha Aynikkattil Ravindran,Suja Rani Sasidharan,Indira Sukumaran Sajitha,Pratheesh Mankuzhy Damodaran

1. MVSc scholar, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
2. Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
3. Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
4. Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
5. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 18th January, 2026 / Accepted: 23rd March, 2026 / Published : 17th April, 2026

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants are valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive compounds that contribute significantly to drug discovery and development. Manilkara zapota has been traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes; however, comprehensive chemical characterization of its leaf extract remains limited. Objective: To preliminary phytochemical screening to determine the main classes of secondary metabolites in the extract, along with the determination of predominant functional groups by FTIR spectroscopy and the identification of bioactive compounds using GC-MS to explore the chemical composition of extract. Materials and Methods: Shade-dried leaves of M. zapota were extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Co-extracted latex constituents were removed by acid-induced coagulation. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed on both latex-removed and untreated extracts. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to identify major functional groups, while GC-MS analysis was carried out to characterise bioactive constituents. Results: Qualitative screening revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and saponins. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups corresponding to alcohols, alkanes, conjugated alkenes and esters. GC–MS analysis identified several bioactive compounds, including glycopeptide derivatives, phenolic compounds, fatty acid esters, monoglycerides and terpenoid constituents. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that M. zapota leaves are rich in diverse phytochemicals, supporting their potential therapeutic applications.