Abstract

• Plants are the main source of natural products that are used in medicine. Clinacanthus nutans (Arcathanceae), was collected from Yangon University Campus, Yangon Region and identified by the botanist, Department of Botany, University of Yangon. According to the preliminary phytochemical tests, it was found that glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins and terpenoids were present in the dried leaves powders. Qualitative elemental analysis by EDXRF revealed that the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans contained K (2.204 %) and Ca (2.25 %) as major elements and Fe, S, Mn, Zn, Cu and Rb as trace elements. The nutritional values determined by AOAC method indicate the percentage of moisture (13.95), ash (19.27), fat (2.01), fibre (28.45), protein (18.12) and carbohydrate (18.2) in the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans. From the ethyl acetate fraction of 95 % ethanol extract of the leaf of Clinacanthus nutans, carboxylic acids were isolated after three successive column chromatographic methods, namely vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC), flash chromatography, using medium pressure, and micro-column chromatography using pasteur pipette giving a single spot on TLC. Carboxylic acids were characterized as long chain fatty acids by TLC staining and FTIR. Three fatty acids were further identified by GC-MS in C, namely linoleic acid (or) (Z, Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (C-1), 11,14-octadecadienoic acid (C-2) and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid (C-3).