Phytochemical profiling in different fruit stages of Morinda citrifolia L. by GC-MS analysis

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia L., commonly known as Noni or Indian Mulberry is being widely used for its various therapeutic activities. The fruit juice of M. citrifolia is commercialized as health tonic due to neutraceutical property. In the present phytochemical screening of the ripened fruit has revealed the presence of generic phytoconstituents like alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, flavanoids, tannins and reducing sugars. The chemical constituents present in the methanolic extract of the six different fruit stages of M. citrifolia were examined through Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Scopoletin, the marker compound was seen in the III^rd stage of the fruit and the V^th stage fruit had high amount of scopoletin compared to the VI^th stage of fruit.