Extraction and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Archachatina marginata (Giant African Land Snail).

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science,Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos.

2 Department Chemical Science, College of Technology, Lagos.

3 Department of Chemical Science,Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos.

4 Analytical Chemist, Yaba College of Technology Central Laboratory.

5 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos

Abstract

Molluscs are important natural sources of many biologically active compounds. Giant snails (Achatina maginata) have been used in folklore medicine to treat liver diseases, anaemia, and constipation among other medicinal uses.  The aim of this research is to extract and identify bioactive compounds present in Archachatina marginata. Ten giant African land snails were collected from a snail farm during the dry season at Badore, Ajah, Lagos. 20g of fresh tissue of the snails was used for extraction with methanol. Methanolic extraction using Chellaram, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was conducted in the identification of the bioactive compounds. The FT-IR analysis provided seven peaks for the two samples, and the spectra of both samples were discovered to be in wavenumber range between 4000-600 cm-1 with a resolution of 4cm-1. The GC-MS in comparison of the mass spectra of the constituents, with the National Institute of Standard and Techniques (NIST14), identified twenty chemical constituents including carotenoids, esters, fatty acid, phenols, and Oleanolic Acid-amino Acids Derivatives and phthalates were characterized.  The methanol-based extracts exhibited significant bioactive constituent levels, and their anti-oxidant characteristics find great application in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries. They act as antioxidants which play important roles in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus providing protection to humans against infections and degenerative diseases. Conclusively, twenty bioactive compounds were extracted and identified in Achantina marginata. The novel compounds obtained from A. marginata will be of high potential for antioxidant activity.

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