Chemical Isolation and Characterization of a Popular Detoxifying Herbal Remedy Yoyo Bitters (YYB) Using GC-MS, NMR and FTIR Analysis

Aim: To identify, isolate and characterize the chemical compounds in a popular herbal product consumed in Nigeria.

Study Design: Experimental study.

The use of herbal medicine is a global practice. In Nigeria, a significant percentage of the population rely on herbal medicine to meet their health needs. YYB, a herbal medicine marketed in Nigeria and exported to other parts of the world is used for the alleviation of various health challenges. Previous studies using animal models have tried to elucidate the pharmacological activities of the product, but none has been able to isolate, identify and characterize any active compound in the herbal product. This work sets out to identify the chemical composition of the product towards a better understanding of its pharmacological claims.

GC-MS analysis of various concentrates of the herbal product extracted after column chromatography was performed using GC – MSD 5973 Agilent instrument. Structural elucidation of the compounds was performed using NMR and FTIR.

Results showed that the herbal preparation contained both compounds whose pharmacological activities have been established as well as other novel compounds whose full pharmacological activities in humans are yet to be elucidated. Compounds with established pharmacological activities were: 3-n-Hexylthiolane,S,S Dioxide (10.4%); Phenol, 2,4 – bis (1,1 dimethylethyl (5.0%), 4-amino-5,6-dimethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-ol (13.4%), Furyl hydroxymethyl ketone (1.1%), D-Allose (54.3%),1,6 anhydro-alpha d galactofuranose (42.9%) and Benzene (0.2%).Identified novel compounds that require full elucidation of pharmacological activities were: 1-Fluro Dodecane (18.1%), Hentriancontane (43.4%), Di-N butylphthalate (5.2%), Triacontane,(17.9%), 2- Thiopheneacetic acid oct-3-en-2-yl ester (1.7%), Benzofuran 2,3 dihydro (16.2%) and Thiophene, 2 propyl (29.5%). Others were 1,2,3,4,5 cyclopentanepental (17.2%), 2(1H) naphthalenone, octohydro-8a-hydro-4a-methyl,- cis (1.1%) and 2, 2 dimethyleicosane (3.1%).

The possible biochemical and pharmacological applications of some of the chemical constituents of the herbal preparation were discussed with reference to their therapeutic potentials.